A Seismic Hazard Model of Albania Case study: Kukes, Berat and Himarë

Abstract
Albania is situated along the Alpine-Mediterranean seismic belt, making it one of the most seismically active regions in Europe. The country’s complex tectonic landscape is primarily driven by the ongoing continental collision between the Adriatic microplate and the Eurasian plate. Historical records and instrumental data emphasize the severe seismic hazard across the country. Between the 3rd century B.C. and the present, Albania has experienced approximately 56 strong earthquakes with intensities of I>VIII (MSK-64), with 15 reaching intensities of IX or higher. Recent devastating events, such as the November 2019 Durrës earthquake (Mw=6.4), have further highlighted the urgent need for an updated seismic hazard model of the country. This paper focuses on a new seismic hazard model for Albania and deriving the seismic hazard profiles of three distinct urban centers: Kukës, Berat, and Himarë, which represent varying geological and tectonic environments. By analysing the probabilistic seismic hazard (PSHA) for these cities, this study aims to provide localized data on Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) for two return periods, required for modern engineering standards.

Keywords: Tectonic setting, earthquake catalogue, ground motion prediction equations, seismic hazard model of Albania.