Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Death Toll Rises in Quake Ravaged Albania

Armand Mero

   TIRANA/DURRES/THUMANE - The death toll in earthquake-ravaged Albania
   rose to at least 41 on Thursday, after nine bodies were pulled from the
   rubble and hope faded for finding additional survivors from Tuesday's
   temblor, the strongest to hit the country in more than three decades.

   Authorities called off search and rescue operations in Thumane, after
   recovering the bodies of the last people who had been reported missing.
   It was the worst-hit town, with 23 dead. Seven of the 23 belonged to a
   single family of nine.

   "God let us keep two [members of the family] but took seven from us,"
   survivor Sul Cara told VOA. "Now we are focused on paying our respects
   to the dead, as honor and tradition demands of us. We will try our best
   to show strength as we send off seven loved ones to burial. This is a
   heavy tragedy to bear, but at the same time we have found strength in
   the outpouring of support, not just from this town but from the whole
   country."

.