2019 Shijak earthquake

The 2019 Shijak earthquake was a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that rocked the central part of Albania on 21 September 2019 at 16:04 local time. The earthquake caused significant damage across central Albania, particularly in Durrës County, injuring 108 people and damaging 563 homes and 28 buildings. It was followed by multiple aftershocks, with the largest measuring 4.2 Mw, which prolonged public anxiety in the affected regions. Though less severe than the November 2019 Albania earthquake that struck two months later, this seismic event highlighted vulnerabilities in the region's building infrastructure and prompted reviews of seismic safety protocols. The earthquake originated from movement along the Shijak Fault in the Adriatic coastal seismogenic zone, a complex area where the Adriatic microplate collides with the Eurasian plate.