Fire at Shkozet fireworks warehouse leaves Durrës without power

A large fire broke out at a fireworks warehouse in Shkozet, a suburb of Durrës, Albania. The blaze destroyed the warehouse, ignited a nearby rented building and damaged a 110‑kilovolt power line, cutting electricity to the entire city of Durrës. Isolated hotspots continue to reignite within the charred debris, releasing dense toxic smoke that blankets the surrounding neighbourhood.

Residents living close to the site, including the Hoxha family whose home borders the warehouse, have suffered property damage and report health concerns from the smoke. They say they have received no compensation for the losses. Police have arrested the 38‑year‑old owner of the rented premises, suspecting he set fire to cardboard outside the warehouse, which then spread out of control. Investigations into the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are ongoing.