The search operation in Elbasan is continuing under difficult conditions, while the official version from the scene acknowledges that hopes of finding alive the 69-year-old man trapped under the rubble have faded significantly.
Two search-and-rescue teams on the ground
According to emergency structures, two search-and-rescue teams with 16 personnel and the relevant equipment are working in the area where the apartment building collapsed from the explosion.
The commander of the Support Base and Civil Emergencies, Colonel Hajdar Gurra, has also arrived at the scene, while the operation is being carried out amid high risk due to the severe damage to the building.
What authorities say about the chances of survival
According to Colonel Gurra, data gathered from thermal cameras used during the inspection of the rubble show that there is very little chance that 69-year-old Hamit Ibro will be found alive.
This assessment remains part of the official version of the operation on the ground, while the search has not been stopped.
High risk from the destroyed structure
Authorities have acknowledged that the intervention carries a very high level of risk, as the building is reported to be completely destroyed.
It is precisely this serious condition of the structure that is making the operation delicate, with the focus not only on finding the person but also on preserving the safety of workers on the ground.
The search is focusing on a specific area
According to information received from relatives and local structures, teams are searching the part of the building where the 69-year-old is suspected to have been at the moment of the explosion.
So far, no development has been made public that would significantly change the grave situation created after the explosion in Elbasan.
For the moment, the operation is continuing amid the rubble and with increased security measures, while the human toll of this incident remains unresolved.
Statements so far from the scene point to a critical situation, where time and the instability of the structure are weighing on every step of the intervention.