FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
After five days of thick smoke and public alarm, the fire at the urban waste landfill in Elbasan has finally been brought under control. The operation required a massive commitment of firefighting forces, heavy vehicles and technical staff, bringing a considerable cost to the local and central budget.
Despite the fact that the flames have been extinguished and the situation has stabilized, the question of responsibility and the repetition of this scenario remains open, which, for residents, has become a dark summer ritual.
For years, every summer Elbasan has faced the same grim reality. The landfill, which should have been a technologically controlled point for waste management, has been transformed into a hotbed of fire, pollution and panic. “ For years, every summer it’s the same story. They set it on fire themselves, because no one goes in there, ” says a citizen, as she keeps her windows closed and lives in fear of smoke poisoning. “ A lot of smoke. It covered the whole place. I have allergies and I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t go outside, ” adds another resident, expressing her revolt at the lack of institutional response.
For the event, the Elbasan prosecutor's office has launched an official investigation to determine the causes of the pollution and the origin of the fire. But as in many previous cases, this time too there is still no official version or any person responsible identified. The flames come, consume tons of garbage, drown the city in smoke and leave, while the justice system remains in limbo.
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