15 years after the Gërdec tragedy, the families of the victims are still seeking justice
2023-03-15 19:37:57
TiranaPost
Today marks 15 years since the tragedy of Gërdec, where 26 people were killed by the explosion of an ammunition depot, but today marks 15 years without justice for the families of those who lost their lives. Like every year, they continue to pay tribute in silence to their relatives who were killed 15 years ago, while still not losing hope for justice.
Zamira Durda, one of the mothers who lost her son Erison in this tragedy, the 7-year-old boy who was playing with a bicycle at the time of the explosion, remembers once again that black day for her and her family:
"I remember a black day. I went out and heard the first explosion. I went out and saw a fog. I looked for the cunny, they told me that he was playing with the bicycle, I had the girl back, he said that I would come too, I didn't know where to start. I returned, took my brothers' toads and ran away. Black day for me that. Today 15 years without cuni. He would have been 22 years old today. I am in a lot of pain," she says.
Has he given up on justice?
She has been in every initiative for justice for this tragedy, but even today she not only does not give up, but continues to seek justice.
"It is a state return. The Albanian army operated here. Without the minister's signature, these munitions were not moved to any kind of warehouse, that's why I call it a state crime, the whole state pyramid has failed. I have addressed all justice institutions, now also SPAK, let's see if justice is served. However, I have a doubt. "I don't know about the accusation of "abuse of duty" for the murder of 26 people, the accusation itself is murderous for us," she says.
What happened on March 15?
On March 15, 2008, a powerful explosion shortly after 12:00 shook Tirana. A few kilometers away, in the village of Gërdec, where there was a workshop for dismantling state ammunition, 26 people were killed and over 300 were injured. Fully 100 houses were leveled.
