The collapse of an old building in the village of Jabllanica in Gjakova on February 1, which resulted in the death of three minors, is under investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office, which has initiated the case as “Causing a General Danger.”
However, the Prosecutor’s Office has not yet revealed who exactly is being investigated or suspected as the cause or responsible party for the incident.
According to the Municipality of Gjakova, this abandoned building was constructed before 1999 and was burned around that time, leaving behind a weakened structure that collapsed under unknown circumstances, trapping the children – two aged 15 and one aged 13.
“Since it is privately owned, the municipality does not have the authority to take any action regarding the building,” said Artan Haraqija, the Municipality’s spokesperson, to Radio Free Europe.
He added that the municipality had not received any complaints or requests for the demolition or securing of the building, either from the owner or from nearby residents.
Haraqija also stated that, “In certain cases, when municipal inspectors notice any building posing a risk, the owner is contacted and the possibilities and procedures for its demolition are explained to them.”
However, according to him, there has not been “any extreme case where a high level of risk was assessed in advance.”
The municipality has also not disclosed whether it has compiled or will compile any documentation identifying private or public buildings at risk of collapse in this area.
“In total, we cannot speak of a large number of such buildings, especially in urban areas and in populated village areas,” said Haraqija.
What do the Laws Say?
The municipality or municipal bodies are considered among the primary authorities responsible for prevention and response in certain cases of natural disasters, including risks from collapses.
This issue is regulated by the Law on the Prevention of Natural Disasters and, specifically, in the National Response Plan approved at the end of 2023.
This plan, compiled by the Government, states that incidents, in general, should be handled by the lowest possible administrative level, such as the police, firefighters, and other personnel at the local level.
According to this plan, when an incident is of such scale and complexity that it is considered a “nationally significant incident,” responsibility also falls on the central level, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which acts in coordination with other ministries and government agencies.
Specifically, the plan stipulates that the municipal mayor is responsible for coordinating municipal resources in the context of “addressing all aspects of actions for prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from incidents, including both natural and other disasters.”
