Earthquake-resistant cities in Albania: The Seismic Microzonation Studies (SMS) and Limit Condition in Emergency (LCE) integrated approach

In this work, it is intended to highlight the indispensable significance of the seismic microzonation studies (SMS) and the Limit Condition in Emergency (LCE) at the level of primary decision-making at urban planning studies and to help resolving a range of problems connected to seismic risk assessment in Albania. Following the 1979 Montenegro seismic sequence, the Albanian government implemented a 'National Plan for Seismic Prevention', which funded the SMS of some of the biggest cities in Albania. Unfortunately, the seismic risk prevention activities were halted after the renewal of the national codes for design in 1989. Located next to the most active fault in Albania, the main cities of the country have experienced seventeen (17) seismic events with magnitude from 5.4 to 6.6 in the last 114 years. The last earthquakes that hit Albania on September 21st, 2019 of Mw 5.4 and November 26th, 2019 of Mw 6.2 severely damaged the cities of Durrës, Thumanë, Tirana, Vora, Shijak and the villages around. The main event of the 26th November caused the deaths of 51 persons and the damaging of hundreds of buildings. The degree of damages produced by these earthquakes has been, in some cases, significantly enhanced by the characteristics of the earthquake ground motion affected by the local subsurface soil structure of the cities. The seismic events of 2019 evidenced the crucial importance of the earthquake risk reduction and mitigation. In the process of creating earthquake-resistant cities, the SMS and the LCE could be the best tools for a better seismic hazard mitigation and prevention in Albania.