For the last 24 hours, the Albanian flag was at half-mast in the country’s state and public institutions because, by a government decision, March 5 was declared a day of national mourning in Albania in memory of the victims of the train accident in Tempi.

The country’s Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on his personal Facebook account that the “tragedy in Greece is also our tragedy and the pain for the lives lost is also our pain…”

In many cities of the country, citizens lit candles in memory of the victims in Tempi. In Koritsa the inhabitants of the city lit candles outside the Metropolitan Church and the same was repeated in the city of Agioi Saranda.

Hundreds of Greeks and Albanians, students, teachers and ordinary citizens went to the courtyard of the Dervitsani community school to light a candle and pray for the victims in Tempi.

Thank you message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Albania for the day of mourning for the victims in Tempi

“A warm thank you to the Government of Albania, its state and public institutions and diplomatic missions who honored the victims of the tragic train crash in Tempi by lowering their flags to half-mast on this day of mourning,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims from Albania,” the ministry added.