FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
A powerful storm, accompanied by intense rainfall and hail of unusual size, hit the villages of Tregan and Bathës in the Elbasan Region this afternoon, causing significant damage to the agricultural sector and fruit growing in the area.
According to residents, the storm began suddenly around noon and lasted for about an hour, leaving behind a severe picture of destruction in the numerous fields and farms in the area.
High-intensity hailstones, comparable in size to hazelnuts, have directly hit spring crops and fruit trees that are in the most sensitive development phase.
The villages of Tregan and Bathës are known for cultivating olives, cherries, oranges and grapes, crops that constitute an important source of income for farming families in the area. Farmers have expressed despair over the extensive damage caused, reports "BW"
In many of the orchards and vineyards, leaves and fruits were damaged or completely torn from the branches, while some roots were irreparably damaged. The hail also damaged agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation systems and greenhouse protection networks. “Everything was destroyed in a matter of minutes.
"The cherry tree was barely recovering from the winter cold, now it dropped all its berries on the ground," said one of the residents of the area, who has been cultivating fruit trees for years.
Other farmers say that the financial damages are incalculable at the moment, while they are requesting assistance and emergency intervention from state structures to assess the damages and the possibility of compensation.
Hailstorms are increasingly frequent at this time of year, but according to residents and agricultural specialists, this was one of the most powerful in recent years.
Experts warn that due to climate change, such extreme events are expected to increase, increasing the risk to agricultural production and the local economy. Local authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the extent of the damage or the measures that will be taken.
Meanwhile, residents are hoping for urgent assistance to mitigate the economic consequences that this natural disaster is expected to leave behind.
This episode serves as a wake-up call for the urgent need to strengthen the civil protection system and implement preventive measures in agriculture, to better cope with the consequences of extreme natural phenomena that are becoming increasingly common in the Albanian climate. In the Elbasan Region during this early Spring, storms and the prevalence of bad weather have caused great damage, especially in orchards.
Lini një Përgjigje