POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE OF 6.4 MAGNITUDE HITS ALBANIA; AT LEAST 9 DEAD, SEVERAL INJURED!

At least 9 people have died after a massive earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hit Albania in the early hours of Tuesday. Hours later, another earthquake struck Bosnia and there are no reports of casualties.

Authorities describe the earthquake as the strongest to hit Albania in three decades. In 1979, an earthquake of 6.9 magnitude hit Albania leaving 136 dead and over 1,000 injured.

"We have victims. We are working to do everything possible in the affected areas," Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on Twitter following the disaster.

According to state media reports, more than 600 people are being treated in hospitals. Schools will be closed for the day.

A man whose daughter and niece were among those who got trapped inside a collapsed apartment building said, "I talked with my daughter and niece on the phone. They said they are well and waiting for the rescue. Could not talk to my wife. There are other families, but I could not talk to them."