The death toll from the most powerful earthquake to strike Albania in decades rose to 40 on Thursday after more bodies were pulled from the wreckage overnight in a tragedy that has wiped out whole families. Search efforts ceased Thursday in the other hard-hit town of Thumane, where the defense ministry said no more bodies were to be found after more than 20 were pulled out. Loved ones have watched on in horror as rescuers pulled out bodies covered in a grey film of dust, many in their pyjamas. Moved to hotelsForty have been found dead and at least 47 people have been rescued alive, the defense ministry said Thursday. The earthquake was the deadliest in several decades in Albania, which lies near a tectonic fault line.

Source: Egypt Independent November 28, 2019 11:03 UTC