11.00 News in brief

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Albania, bringing down buildings and leaving people trapped under rubble.

The strongest earthquake to hit Albania in decades sent panicked residents into the streets and causing at least one building to collapse in the nearby port town of Durres.

At least six people have died, the Albanian defense ministry spokeswoman confirmed. Some 300 more were injured, according to the country’s ministry of health.

The quake hit 34 km northwest of the capital, Tirana, early on Tuesday morning.

There have been a number of aftershocks, including one of 5.3 magnitude.

An elderly, bed-ridden woman on the island of Rhodes became the third victim of the powerful storms that lashed many regions of Greece on Sunday and Monday, after her house flooded yesterday evening.

The island of Rhodes has been cut in two, as a river has overflown. Schools on the island will remain closed today.

Moreover, the island of Thasos is experiencing power cuts and water shortage. Extensive damages have also been reported on the island of Lemnos and Chalkidiki.

The biggest problems were reported in the town of Kineta in western Attica, where countless homes were flooded and cars were overturned.

The old national highway remains closed at the level of Agioi Theodoroi.

The toll stations at Agioi Theodoroi and Elefsina will be free of charge for citizens until damages are restored, infrastructure minister Kostas Karamanlis has stated.

Parliament’s plenary session approved significant changes to the Greek constitution on Monday evening, based on proposals by New Democracy (ND) and SYRIZA which include regulations on the selection of Greece’s president, the right of Greeks abroad to vote at their countries of residence, and ministerial liability.

And the weather forecast…

Partly cloudy in Attica today with a possibility of local showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon. The temperature will reach a maximum of 19 degrees.

More news in brief tomorrow morning at 9.