Firefighters are bringing a blaze near the Apollonia Archaeological Park under control with support from aerial operations.

Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja visited the site to monitor the situation and firefighting efforts.

Gonxhja said protecting Apollonia Archaeological Park remains a priority as an important cultural heritage site. He also thanked all the teams working on the ground.

“Firefighting efforts are continuing. We have increased forces on the ground and in the air. With temperatures this low, such a fire should not have occurred. Human error caused it, and the police are investigating. No monument inside the park has been damaged,” Gonxhja said.

Meanwhile, Gonxhja praised the firefighters and aerial support. He also stressed the importance of a quick response from citizens in similar situations.

“It is essential that we protect [our heritage]. Just as our predecessors protected it, we must protect it too,” Gonxhja said.

The minister also thanked Andrea Rama, a visitor from Lushnja who spotted the fire near the park and helped with the firefighting efforts.

Gonxhja described his contribution as “an example of courage and civic responsibility.” He stressed that protecting cultural heritage remains a shared responsibility.

Meanwhile, teams continue working at the site to contain and extinguish the fire completely and protect the archaeological area.

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