The first phase of the reconstruction process of the declared uninhabitable residential buildings slightly damaged by the Nov 26 earthquake in the port city of Durres has already started in a bid to make sure that some 1679 quake-affected families return to their apartments as of March 26.

Prime Minister Edi Rama today visited the beach area in Durres to closely inspect the works progress during this initial phase of the light damage reconstruction process. Accompanied by the Durres Mayor Zhulien Varfaj, the Premier visited one of the apartment building classified in the DS2 damage degree category, with intense work already underway to repair and upgrade the three affected floors in order to provide a safe and habitable living spaces. Meanwhile, the process of issuing construction permits for this kind of buildings continues pursuant to projects that meet rigorous legal construction standards.

“The degree of damage to this building is rated DS2. As many as 64 construction permits have been issued to date, with 44 of them issued for reconstruction works on apartment buildings and 20 other permits for service buildings. Every house and apartment will become liveable and safe, just like this completed apartment,” Varfaj said while visiting an apartment recently upgraded to become fully habitable.

Varfaj also said that the process of filing online applications under the rebuilding program us underway with 61 service windows having been made available for the application process.