Albanian President Urges Action over ‘Mass Poisoning’ in Kruja

The prosecution in the town of Kruja has opened an investigation into a suspected mass poisoning which President Ilir Meta has described as a serious threat to people's lives.

"I am following with concern the mass poisoning of the inhabitants of Kruja, an alarming situation that must be treated with great responsibility and seriousness by the state institutions responsible for public health, but also by justice," Meta wrote on Facebook.

"I support and congratulate the medical teams for the care and professionalism shown so far and urge the epidemiological and forensic health services to find out as soon as possible the causes and those responsible for this serious incident, which poses a serious threat to human lives and national security," he added.

A total of 137 people have gone to hospital with symptoms of poisoning and the prosecutor's office told BIRN that the number has been growing during the day.

Water in the town has been cut off by the authorities, who suspect that contamination in the water supply could be the cause.

Water samples have been taken by Public Health personnel and sent for analysis, but the results are not known yet.

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