Municipalities affected by this month’s floods have not yet completed the damage assessment process. According to local officials, the process is expected to conclude by the end of January. Based on preliminary data so far, the largest number of claims relates to damage in household economies.
By the end of January, all municipalities affected by flooding caused by heavy rainfall at the beginning of the month are expected to finalize their damage assessments.
So far, the most significant damage has been identified in private households, followed by damage to businesses and public infrastructure.
In the Municipality of Klina, 220 requests from citizens have been submitted for damage assessment.
“Households account for the largest number of assessment requests. Although businesses have submitted fewer requests, the financial value of their damage is significantly higher due to the scale of flooding. In terms of infrastructure, serious damage has been identified in riverbeds, soil erosion, and damage to gravel and asphalt roads,” said Shendrit Gashi, coordinator of the Damage Assessment Commission in Klina.
Severe infrastructure damage has also been reported in the Municipality of Malisheva. According to authorities, three bridges must be completely rebuilt.
“The figure will be very high because many household appliances were damaged in citizens’ homes. There is also considerable damage to businesses. However, the biggest damage is to infrastructure, particularly the dam of the Mirusha Lake, as well as three bridges that require complete reconstruction, and significant road damage,” said Artan Paçarizi, spokesperson for the Municipality of Malisheva.
In the Municipality of Rahovec, 420 requests for damage assessment have been submitted so far.
The mayor, Smajl Latifi, stated that agriculture has also suffered considerable damage.
“There is damage mainly in households, but also in family economies and public infrastructure. There is damage in agriculture as well, even though it is still early—such as to wheat, salads, greenhouses, and some crops cultivated during the winter season,” Latifi said.
At the central government level, officials emphasized that final conclusions cannot yet be drawn, as the assessment process is still ongoing.
“The damage assessment process is still underway, and therefore final conclusions on the level of damage or identifying the most affected municipality or area cannot yet be made. Cooperation with municipalities will continue until the process is fully completed,” said Kastriot Lajçi, chair of the Governmental Commission for the Assessment of Damage from Natural Disasters.
Heavy rainfall on January 7 and 8 affected Gjakova, Malisheva, Rahovec, Drenas, Skenderaj, Klina, Has, Prizren, Fushë Kosovë, South Mitrovica, as well as municipalities in the north of the country.
