Journal of Seismology 4: 117131, 2000.

2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.

117

Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra (Albania) transversal fault zone and its seismic

activity
Eduard Sulstarova, Veronika Pei & Piro Shuteriqi
Institute of Seismology, Tirana, Albania
Received 9 October 1997; accepted in revised form 2 March 1999

Key words: Focal mechanism, Recent and historical seismicity, Transversal fault zone Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra
(Albania)

Abstract
The transversal fault zone Vlora-Elbasan-Dibra (VED) with Northeastern strike dislocated the structure of Albanides along all their width. This transversal fault is distinguished by the flexure of Lushnja, the diapire dome of
Dumrea, the transversal Quaternary depression of Elbasani, the belt of transversal structure of Labinoti, and then it
continues towards Northeast with transversal horst of Golloborda and goes toward FYROM in NE direction. In the
Southwestern part of this transversal fault, near Fieri town, the molasse subsided toward North. The structures of
Ionian and Kruja zone, near this transversal fault, also subsided and uplifted more toward North. Through marine
investigation a transversal fault with ENE strike direction was discovered near the Northern part of Sazani Island
(Aliaj et al., 1996). We think it may belong to the big transversal fault zone VED. The transversal fault zone
VED is clearly outlined by the location of strong and weak earthquakes, migration of foci along this fault, the
macroseismic field and focal mechanisms. Generally, along this transversal fault it is the transtensional strike-slip
dextral motion that dominates. In our studies the transversal fault zone Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra was considered to
be the most potential transversal seismogenetic belt in Albania and nearby. It has played, and is still playing, an
important role in seismotectonics in Albania and its surrounding regions.

Introduction
The problem of the transversal fault zone VloraElbasani-Dibra, as Vlora-Dibra seismogenetic belt,
has been treated after the Dibra earthquake of November 30, 1967 (Ms = 6.6) (Sulstarova and Koiaj, 1969,
1980). Later on, when the Albanian Seismological
Network was set up and our seismological and seismotectonic studies were deepened, the question of the
transversal fault VED has been treated in some studies
(Sulstarova, 1974; Sulstarova et al., 1980; Sulstarova,
1986, 1987, 1988).
The present study is supported by a great number
of seismological data we re-evaluated the parameters of two hundred earthquakes with Ms 4.5 for the
period 19011995, about one thousand earthquakes
with M 2.5 for the period 19811995 and some
strong earthquakes before 1900 with epicenters in the
transversal fault zone VED (Sulstarova et al., 1996;

Sulstarova, 1996).The macroseismic field of seventy

earthquakes with isoseismal maps for the period 1851
1990 (Sulstarova and Koiaj, 1996) and focal mechanism solutions of sixteen earthquakes with Ms 5.0 for
the period 19591985 (Sulstarova, 1986, 1987, 1988
and Muo, 1994) with epicenter in this transversal
zone and nearby have been analyzed. New neotectonic
data for inland and Adriatic sea and the region where
this transversal fault is situated (Aliaj et al., 1996) have
been used.
The objective of this study is the examination of
seismicity, type of motion in the transversal fault zone
Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra and its position.

118

Figure 1. Epicentral map of earthquakes with Ms 6.0, Io > VIII degree MSK-1964, in the transversal fault zone Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra, for
the period before 1900 and 19011995, from Sulstarova (1996) and Sulstarova et al. (1996).

119
Neotectonic characteristics of transversal
Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra zone

The structure of Albanides of NW-SE general direction is intersected by some deep transversal fault
zones having a NE-SW and E-W trend, which started since the beginning of the Alpine cycle. These
faults have played and still play an essential role during all the tectonic development of Albania. In the
new structures these zones are expressed in the shape
of flexure or uplifts or transversal depression and are
complicated with deep faults, which are very well
differentiated. The transversal fault zones in Albania
are clearly outlined by the location of earthquake epicenters, the macroseismic field and focal mechanism
solutions. The most important transversal fault zone
in Albania, from the seismological point of view, is
that of Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra.
The Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra (VED) transversal fault
zone, with NE extension, dislocates the structure of
Albanides along all their width. In the external domain
of Albanides the transversal fault zone of VED is outlined by the diapire dome of Dumrea, the flexure of
Lushnja, the transversal Quaternary depression of Elbasani and the belt of transversal structure of Labinoti.
In the South of Elbasani town and near North of Berati town, the structures of Ionian and Kruja zones are
subsided and uplifted more North; the molasse near
the Fieri town has also subsided towards North. Along
this fault zone the tectonic motions have been and still
are intensive and this is clearly shown by the strong
oscillations of the river valleys in Shkumbini, Semani
and Vjosa.
In the internal domain the transversal fault zone
VED continues with the transversal horst of Golloborda, which divides the ophiolites of Albania into
two parts, Northern and Southern with different characteristics; and then it continues towards NE in the
Southern part of Deshati mountains toward FYROM.
In the Southwestern extremity, North of Sazani island, a transversal fault with ENE strike direction was
discovered from marine investigations, which bounds
the North zone of Sazani with Apulian platform (Aliaj
et al., 1996). We think this transversal fault belongs to
the big VED transversal fault zone.
Along the transversal fault Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra,
which exhibits transtensional strike-slip dextral motion the evaporates of Dumrea have also injected hot
spring water near Elbasani and Dibra.

Figure 2. Epicentral map of earthquakes in Albania and surrounding for the period 19011995 with Ms 4.5, from Sulstarova et al.
(1996), complete data.

Seismic activity of transversal

Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra
Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra seismogenetic transversal belt
is the only fault zone in Albania which is active
along all its length, and it represents the most important transversal fault from the seismological point
of view. Many strong earthquakes have occurred in
Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra transversal fault zone causing
considerable loss of human lives and grave material
damage in Albania. From this fault zone the following strong earthquakes, with Ms 6.0 or intensity
Io VIII MSK-1964 occurred (Sulstarova and Koiaj,
1975; Sulstarova et al., 1996; Sulstarova, 1996),
(Figure 1 and Table 1):

120
Table 1. Earthquake catalogue for transversal fault Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra, before 1900 with MS 6.0 and 19011995 with
MS 5.0
Year
II-III BC
0217
1356
1380
1551
1601
1833
1843
1848
1851
1851
1851
1851
1851
1862
1865
1866
1906
1907
1920
1920
1921
1921
1921
1921
1922
1922
1923
1923
1924
1924
1927
1929
1930
1931
1931
1935
1935
1936
1939
1939
1940
1942
1946
1946
1953
1953
1959
1959

Day

3
6
1
9

16
19
5

1
10
10
10
12
10
10
01
03
08
11
12
03
06
07
10
04
12
01
12
8
11
7
1
12
9
9
3
11
1
5
8
2
8
4
8
1
3
8
9

20
12
17
20
29
04
10
02
03
16
29
18
30
10
06
21
11
07
07
27
25
18
28
17
02
20
23
31
7
29
20
9
23
27
16
20
7
31
17
1

Fi

La

Depth

Mag.

Max. Intensity (MSK-64)

Region

20.0
30.0
30.0
00.0
10.0
10.0
06.0
15.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
30.0
40.0
51.0
0.0
0.0
31.0
28.0
33.0
31.0
24.0
56.0
11.0
53.0
37.0
57.0
48.0
15.0
40.0

40.70
40.70
40.70
41.10
40.70
40.30
40.40
41.10
40.70
41.20
40.50
40.70
41.10
40.70
40.50
40.50
40.50
41.00
41.10
40.65
41.10
41.70
41.10
41.70
41.10
40.50
41.70
41.10
41.00
41.50
41.50
40.30
40.60
40.30
40.60
40.40
41.25
41.30
41.30
40.80
40.60
40.60
41.65
40.80
40.80
41.30
40.50
40.90
40.85

19.50
19.50
20.00
20.10
20.00
19.50
19.40
20.10
20.00
20.20
19.50
20.00
20.10
20.00
19.50
19.90
19.50
20.00
20.10
19.85
20.10
20.50
20.10
20.50
20.10
19.80
20.70
20.10
19.70
20.60
21.00
19.00
19.60
19.60
19.70
19.60
20.25
20.30
20.30
19.70
19.70
19.60
20.45
19.90
19.90
20.60
19.60
19.80
19.80

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
13
n
n
13
n
19
n
17
13
18
15
17
26
17
16
19
14
17
17
19
18
17
18
13
13
8
12
21
15
17
14
18
12
27
17
23
19
24
18

6.3
6.3
6.3
6.6
6.6
6.6
6.6
6.3
6.3
6.3
6.6
6.6
6.3
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.6
5.2
6.2
5.5
5.6
5.8
5.0
5.2
5.1
5.6
5.5
5.1
5.2
5.5
5.0
5.0
5.1
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.7
5.4
5.1
5.1
5.1
5.5
6.0
5.4
5.2
5.6
5.0
5.8
6.2

VIIIIX
VIIIIX
VIIIIX
IX
IX
IX
IX
VIIIIX
VIIIIX
VIIIIX
IX
IX
VIIIIX
VIII
VIII
VIII
IX
VII
VIIIIX
VII
VIII
VIIIIX
VIVII
VII
VIVII
VIIVIII
VII
VIVII
VIVII
VII
VIVII
VIVII
VII
VII
VIVII
VIIIIX
VIII
VII
VII
VII
VII
VII
VIIIIX
VII
VII
VIVII
VIVII
VII
XIIIIX

Apolonia (near Fieri Town)

Apolonia (near Fieri Town)
Berati
Elbasani
Berati
Vlora
Vlora
Elbasani
Berati
Elbasani
Vlora
Berati
Elbasani
Berati
Vlora
Vlora
Vlora
Elbasani
Elbasani
Mallakastra
Elbasani
Dibra
Elbasani
Dibra
Elbasani
Mallakastra
Dibra
Elbasani
Lushnja
FYROM
FYROM
Sazani Island
Fieri-Cakrani
Vlora-Gumenica
Mallakaster
Vlora-Mazhari
Cermenika (Librazhdi)
Cermenika (Librazhdi)
Cermenika (Librazhdi)
Fieri
Ballshi
Fieri-Cakrani
Dibra-Maqellara
Berati-Kuova
Ballshi
Dibra
Berati
Lushnja
Lushnja

07
08
10
04
09
21
13
15
02
15
01
11
02
04
16
12
16
14
11
6
0
13
3
13
3
4
15
9
3
0
6
11
17
1
0
1
11

30
30

56
16
48
01
05
10
04
06
35
37
27
30
18
15
49
6
28
30
28
21
37
55
35
30
39
14
43
26
18
55
33
37

121
Table 1. (continued)
Year

Day

Fi

La

Depth

Mag.

Max. Intensity (MSK-64)

Region

1959
1959
1962
1964
1967
1967
1967
1967
1969
1969
1979
1980
1982
1985

10
10
3
8
9
11
12
12
4
8
10
7
11
01

5
7
18
24
8
30
2
2
3
26
21
19
16
16

20
8
15
21
2
7
0
12
22
2
11
0
23
23

34
30
30
42
04
23
24
44
12
15
31
37
41
35

7.0
46.7
32.0
46.0
45.0
50.0
13.0
43.0
21.9
37.0
9.2
56.2
20.8
50.8

40.80
40.97
40.70
40.30
40.60
41.35
41.30
41.25
40.50
41.55
41.18
41.47
40.79
40.67

19.90
19.77
19.60
19.10
20.08
20.40
20.30
20.35
19.95
20.40
20.12
20.38
19.66
19.28

12
38
14
18
31
14
17
15
14
18
15
17
19
23

5.2
5.7
6.0
5.0
5.3
6.6
5.5
5.4
5.6
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.7
5.0

VII
VIIVIII
VIII
VI
VIVII
IX
VII
VII
VIIVIII
VIVII
VIVII
VIVII
VII
VIVII

Kuova
Lushnja
Fieri
Ionean Sea
Berati
Dibra
Luniku (Librazhdi)
Luniku (Librazhdi)
Fieri-Mallakastra
Dibra
Cermenika (Librazhd)
Dibra
Fieri
Adriatic Coast

Vlora town and its surroundings were struck by

very strong earthquakes on June 16, 1601, (Imax = IX
degrees of MSK-1964), January 19, 1833 (Imax = IX),
October 12, 1851 (Imax = IX), October 4, 1862
(Imax = VIII), January 02, 1866 (Imax = IX). The
strongest earthquake in this century was on November
21, 1930, with Ms = 6.0 and Io = IX MSK-1964. The
epicenter of this earthquake was South of Vlora town,
in Qafa Llogara.
Apollonia and Fieri town. The strongest earthquake was on II or III century BC and on 217 AD,
which destroyed Apollonia, a very important town in
Adriatic Coast in ancient times. The earthquake of
March 18, 1962 with Ms = 6.0 and Io = VIII, caused
a lot of damage in Fieri and in many villages around
and less damage in some other towns near Fieri.
Berati and its surroundings were struck by
strong earthquakes on July 6, 1356 (Imax = VIIIIX),
March 1551 (Imax = IX), 1848 (Imax = VIIIIX), October 17, 1851 (Imax = IX), and December 29, 1851
(Imax = IX). South of Berati, in Osman-Zeze village,
the focus of the strong earthquake of October 10, 1865
(Imax = VIII) is located.
Lushnja and surrounding areas were struck by
strong earthquakes during AugustOctober 1959; in
this series of earthquakes (foreshocks and aftershocks)
the main shock of September 1, 1959 with Ms = 6.2
and Io = VIIIIX degrees MSK-1964 caused much
damage in Lushnja and many villages and also in some
other towns (Berati, Fieri, Elbasani, Durresi) up to
Tirana.

Elbasani and surrounding areas were struck

by strong historical earthquakes, in the year 1380
(Imax = IX), September 5, 1843 (Imax = VIIIIX),
January 1851 (Imax = VIIIIX), October 20, 1851
(Imax = IX degrees) and the earthquakes of August
16, 1907 with Ms = 6.2 (Imax = VIIIIX degrees)
and December 18, 1920 with intensity VIII degrees
(Ms = 5.6) during the present century.
In the Northeast, the strongest earthquake, known
so far, is the earthquake of November 30, 1967 with
Ms = 6.6 and epicentral intensity IX degree MSK1964; the epicenter was situated in Golloborda region
(Dibra district), and caused heavy damage (material damage amounted to collapse of 6335 dwelling
houses) and 19 victims.
Near Dibra town, in Maqellara region, the
strongest earthquake occurred on August 27, 1942
with Ms = 6.0 and intensity in epicenter VIIIIX degree MSK-1964, causing much damage and many
casualties.
The map of epicenters (Figure 1) shows only the
strong earthquakes with Ms 6.0 in the VED zone.
The map of earthquake epicenters with Ms 4.5 for
the period 19011995 is shown in Figure 2 and in Figure 3 present the map of earthquake epicenters for the
period 19811995 with M 2.5 for the territory of Albania and surroundings. From these maps, it is clearly
seen that the transversal fault zone Vlora-ElbasaniDibra is very active. The epicenters of earthquakes are
distributed along all its length.

122

Figure 3. Epicentral Map of earthquakes in Albania and surrounding for the period 19811995, with ML 2.5, from Sulstarova et al. (1996),
complete data.

The earthquakes of September 1, 1959, in Lushnja

region and November 30, 1967 in Dibra region were
associated by many aftershocks. In Figure 4, the space
distribution of aftershocks of the two above mentioned
earthquakes is presented; in these cases, the aftershock
regions appear as ellipses, with the long axis very well
coinciding with the strike direction of transversal fault

zone VED. In this context, the earthquakes of 1851 in

Vlora, Berati and Elbasani are very interesting. Catastrophic shocks of 1851 began on January 20, 1851
with a strong earthquake in Elbasani, then on October 12, 1851 Vlora was struck by a IX degree quake,
followed by one strong shock in Berati on October
17, 1851 with IX degree, on October 20,1851 in El-

123

Figure 4. The space distribution of aftershocks of earthquakes: September 1, 1959 (a) and November 30, 1967 (b), from Sulstarova (1986).

124
basani with VIII degree and in the end, on December
29, 1851 another strong earthquake occurred in Berati,
with intensity VIII degree. Consequently the sector of
Vlora-Berati-Elbasani of transversal fault VED zone
in the year 1851 has been activated along all its length
of about one hundred km.
Migration of epicenters of weak earthquakes in
transversal fault VED zone, in some sectors were
registered in some cases in the period 19761990
(Muo, 1992).
The distribution of seismic intensity on the Earths
surface depends mainly on the focal mechanism of
the earthquake and on the geologic structure. In this
context the isoseismal maps furnish additions information on the extention, trend and dip direction of faults
which generate the earthquakes. We have investigated
70 isoseismal maps of earthquakes with foci along the
transversal VED zone (Sulstarova, 1996). The isoseismal map of the November 30, 1967 earthquake
in Dibra region is presented in Figure 5. From our
statistical analysis of 70 isoseismal maps, we have observed that the strike direction of the longest axes of
the isoseismals have the NE (N 30 60 E) direction,
the same as the strike of transversal fault VED, therefore these earthquakes generated from this transversal
fault.
In the epicentral zones of some strong earthquakes
surface faults and fissures were observed. The most
important phenomenon was observed in the epicentral zone of the November 30, 1967, earthquake in the
Dibra region: a 10 km long surface rupture appeared
from Qafa Pervalla, village of Prevalla, down to the
village Sebishti (near Prodani village) in the direction
40 NE (see photo 6 and Figure 7). All along its length
the Southeastern block dipped against the Northwestern block. This rupture cuts across the Paleogen flysch
deposits. At several spots the amplitude of vertical
displacement of the rupture is as great as 50 cm. Diagonal fissures of the dilatational type in limestone and
sand deposits appearing in crosswise direction to this
fault were observed in some places. The surface rupture observed in the epicentral zone of November 30,
1967 earthquakes was normal fault with small strikeslip dextral component; the strike direction of this fault
coincides with the extension of VED transversal fault
zone.
During the SeptemberOctober 1959, earthquakes
in Lushnja and the March 18, 1962 earthquake in Fieri,
in pleistoseismal zones of these earthquakes systems
of diagonal fissures of dilatation type were observed
with directions 300 N and 50 60 N in case of

Lushnja and 85 N in case of Fieri. These cracks are

formed by the action of tensional stresses; the width of
the cracks were 2025 cm, and length some hundred
meters.
Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra seismogenetic transversal
belt cuts across all longitudinal seismogenetic zones:
Ionian-Adriatic, Kora-Ohrid-Dibra, and ShkodraMati-Mokra-Bilishti, which is due to the cutting role
of the Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra great transversal dislocation.

The focal mechanism solutions for earthquakes in

transversal fault zone Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra and
stress fields
The focal mechanism solutions of 12 earthquakes with
M 5.0, for the period 19591990, for the transversal
fault zone VED and nearby and 2 earthquakes with
MS 5.0 in Otranto Channel (Table 2) have been
investigated. Figure 8 presents the focal mechanism
solutions for the earthquakes of this transversal and
nearby, the stress field deduced from statistical analysis of focal mechanism solutions of 70 earthquakes,
occurred in Albania and its surroundings in the 1959
1985 period (Sulstarova, 1986, 1987, 1988, Tagari,
1993) and neotectonic characteristics of the transversal VED zone, compiled from neotectonic map of
Albania (Aliaj et al., 1996).
The focal mechanism solutions of series of earthquakes of AugustOctober 1959 in Lushnja region
(foreshock , main shock and aftershocks) (Sulstarova,
1986, 1987, 1988) have shown that this earthquake
series are generated by tensional stress field with direction 20 25 NE and plunge 10 32. On the basis
of macroseismic field analysis and surface phenomena, the nodal plane with strike direction N 72 E
and dip direction SE is accepted as fault plane, which
fits the kinematics and geometry of the Lushnja flexure; the faults are transtensional strike-slip dextral
for the foreshock and mainshock and transpressional
strike-slip for the aftershock.
The focal mechanism solution of the March 18,
1962 earthquake in Fieri region (Sulstarova, 1986,
1987, 1988) has shown that this earthquake generated
from one fault of transtensional strike-slip dextral type
with strike direction N62 E and dip of 30 degree
SE. The focal mechanism solution of the November
16, 1982 earthquake with epicenter near Roskoveci
town (Fieri district) (Sulstarova, 1986, 1987, 1988)
and the focal solution of the January 16, 1985 earth-

125

Figure 5. The isoseismal Map of November 30, 1967 earthquake, from Sulstarova and Koiaj (1980).

Date

17 08 1959
01 09 1959
07 10 1959
12 03 1960
18 03 1962
26 07 1963
30 11 1967
02 12 1967
26 08 1969
20 10 1974
23 11 1974
21 10 1979
16 11 1982
16 01 1985

Nr

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

01 33
11 37
08 30
12 02
15 30
04 14
07 23
12 44
02 15
11 25
18 46
11 31
23 41
23 35

Origine
Time
h m

40.90
40.85
41.00
41.90
40.70
42.00
41.35
40.25
41.55
39.57
39.74
41.14
40.78
40.67

Coordin.

19.80
19.90
19.80
20.90
19.60
21.40
20.40
20.30
20.40
18.83
18.94
19.90
19.60
19.28

Focal

24
25
25
18
27
06
10
9
30
1
49
26
15
23

Mag.
Depth
h, km

5.8
6.2
5.7
5.6
6.0
6.1
6.6
5.4
5.0
4.9
4.7
5.0
5.7
5.0

105
72
67
72
62
42
42
254
242
17
47
161
70
22

Nodal Plan
1
Ms strike
( )N
80
36
64
70
30
72
50
54
62
77
73
83
44
78

10
164
340
346
321
298
265
338
143
110
302
255
152
290

Nodal Plan
2
dip
strike
( )
( )N
66
86
88
86
84
78
50
78
72
78
49
58
82
79

dip
( )

Axes

145
283
292
210
271
268
248
292
194
24
172
212
210
336

P
strike
( )N
10
34
16
16
43
40
66
34
06
2
16
17
24
1

plg.
( )
51
41
28
118
28
168
335
30
99
334
275
114
100
246

T
strike
( )N
24
36
20
12
32
14
01
14
34
18
42
27
38
17

plg.
( )

Type of

strike-slip
"
"
"
"
"
norm+str-sl
strike-slip
"
"
"
"
strike-slip
"

References
Displac.

Table 2. Focal mechanism solutions for earthquakes of transversal fault zone Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra, and nearby for the years 19591990, Ms 5.0

Sulstarova, (1986)
"
"
"
"
"
re-estimated
Sulstarova (1986)
"
Muo, (1994)
"
"
"
Muo, (1994)

126

127

Figure 6. The fault observed during the Dibra earthquake (November 30, 1967 07 h 23 m 52 s) in village of Pervalla (Dibra district), from
Sulstarova and Koiaj (1980).

quake (Muo, 1994) with epicenter in Adriatic Sea,

Bay of Vlora, (North of Sazani island) have shown
that both earthquakes were generated by faults with
Northestern strike direction, which fit kinematics and
geometry of the transversal fault VED zone. The faults
are transpressional strike-slip dextral type.
Towards Northeastern sector of transversal fault
VED zone, in Dibra region, the focal mechanism
solution of November 30, 1967 earthquake (Figure 7
and 8) has been re-estimated. The nodal plane with
strike direction N 42 E and dip of 50 towards SE

was accepted as fault plane. This fault plane has

the same direction as the surface rupture observed
in this case in Qafa Pervalla-Sebishti (Dibra region
see photo 6). The fault is a normal fault with small
strike-slip dextral component; the Southeastern block
dipped against the Northwestern block and also coincides with the general plane of Elbasani-Dibra great
transversal uplifting.
Recently Baker et al. (1997) gave the focal mechanism solution for November 30, 1967 earthquake
from body wave modeling. The solution indicates nor-

128

Figure 7. Neotectonic map of Okshtun region and surrounding, Aliaj et al. (1996) and focal mechanism of Dibra earthquake, November 30,
1967.

mal fault but of different direction than ours (nodal

plane 1 strike 190 30 dip 43 and nodal plane 2
strike 7 and dip 47 ).
In the focal mechanism solution of July 26, 1963
earthquake in Skopje (FYROM, Ms = 6.1), the nodal
plane with strike direction N 42 E and dipping 72
degree SE was accepted as the fault plane. This plane
coincides very well with direction of neotectonic fault
South of Skopje with strike direction ENE mentioned
in studies of Arsovski and Hadzievski (1970) and Arsovski (1970). Our solution is almost the same as given
by McKenzie (1972). In this case the fault is also
strike-slip dextral type. The strike direction of the fault
and motion in it are similar to that of the transversal
fault VED zone.
From the focal mechanism solutions mentioned
above and those presented in Table 2 it is quite clear

that Southwestern part of the transversal fault VED

zone from Vlora Bay up to Elbasani region in external domain of Albanides, the transversal fault works
as transtensional or transpresional strike-slip dextral
type, whereas in internal domain, from Elbasani to
Dibra region this fault works as normal fault with a
dextral component of strike-slip and as transtensional
strike-slip dextral. It is very interesting to emphasize
that in all the length of the transversal fault VDE zone
there is a dextral component of strike-slip and dip
direction of the fault is generally to the SE. Foci are
shallow, and lie mostly above 30 km depth.
It is very interesting to see the stress field in Albania and its surrounding in correlation with the transversal fault VED zone. Tagari (1993) has elaborated,
by the method proposed by Carey and Mercier (1987)
and using the data given in the studies of Sulstarova

129

Figure 8. Map of focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes in transversal Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra zone and nearby, the stress field around this
zone deduced by focal mechanism solution of 70 earthquakes occurred in Albania and surroundings in period 19591985 (Sulstarova, 1986,
1987, 1988; Tagari, 1993) and neotectonic characteristics of transversal VED zone compiled from neotectonic map of Albania (Aliaj et al.,
1996). 1: Overthrust front that separates outer and inner domains with different regime. 2: Reverse to thrust and backthrust fault. 3: Normal
fault. 4: Flexure. 5: Strike-slip fault. 6: Diapir dome. 7: Compression axis. 8: Tension axis. 9: Zone of compressional stress field. 10: Zone of
tensional stress field. Tr S-P: Shkodra-Peja transversal fault.

130
(1986, 1987), the focal mechanism solutions of 70
earthquakes occurring in Albania and its surroundings in the period 19591985. In this statistical study,
the conclusions of previous studies are confirmed.
Thus, in the Western part of the Dinarides, Albanides
and Helenides, in external zones, the compressional
stresses are predominant with axes nearly perpendicular to the coastal region and in internal region the
extensional stress is predominant, with axes nearly N
14 E direction in northeastern part of Albania, north
of the transversal VED and NW-SE (N 33 W) in
Southeast of Albania, south of the transversal VED;
this direction of extensional stress tensors, in Southeastern part, are similar to the NW part of Greece,
(Sulstarova, 1974, 1986, 1987; McKenzie, 1972,
1978; Anderson and Jackson, 1987; Papazachos et al.,
1992; Baker et al., 1997).
In Tagaris (1993) study in correlation with the
transversal fault VED zone the following values for
principal stress components are given:
In the coastal regions north of Shkodra-Peja
transversal fault: P = 16 N, plunge = 3 ; T = 124 N,
plunge = 79 .
In the coastal region between the Shkodra-Peja
transversal fault and the transversal fault VED zone:
P = 274 N, plunge = 10 ; T = 164 N, plunge = 64 .
In the internal central part of Albanides:
P = 262 N, plunge = 2 ; T = 168 N, plunge = 62 .
In the coastal region South of the transversal
fault VED zone: P = 206 N, plunge = 7 ; T = 97 N,
plunge = 69 .
In the internal zone of Albanides, North of
the transversal fault VED zone, in Northeastern part
of Albania: P = 152 N, plunge = 74 ; T = 14 N,
plunge = 10 .
Whereas in the Southeastern part of Albania,
South of the transversal fault VED zone: P = 246 N,
plunge = 64 ; T = 327 N, plunge = 15 .
The values of principal stress components mentioned above are presented graphically in fig. 8.
The microtectonic studies carried out in the
transversal fault VED zone in the region ElbasaniLibrazhdi (Tagari, 1993; Aliaj et al., 1996) show that
tensional stress with direction 14 N and plunge 17
was predominant, and this fault acts as a normal fault
with a strike-slip dextral component. These data are
almost the same as those obtained by focal mechanism
solutions.
This stress field mentioned above and presented
in Figure 8 deduced by statistical analysis of focal
mechanism solutions supports our conclusion that in

the transversal fault VED, the motion is generally of

strike-slip dextral type.
From the analysis of the focal mechanism of strong
earthquakes mentioned above we have concluded that
the transversal fault in Vlora-Elbasani-Dibra zone extends beyond Albanian territory towards NE into FYR
of Macedonia and onward and in the SW direction in
to the Adriatic Sea. We think that the VED transversal
seismogenetic zone has played and is still playing
an important role in seismotectonics not only of the
Albanian territory, but also of the Balkan region,
including Adriatic Sea.
To better understand the role of this seismogenetic transversal belt in the seismotectonics of this
region, it is necessary to undertake deep seismological,
seismotectonic and geophysical investigations.

Conclusions and discussion

The distribution of the epicenters of strong and weak
earthquakes, distribution of aftershocks of strong
earthquakes, migration of epicenters of earthquakes,
strike direction of longest axes of isoseismal maps
with NE extension and focal mechanism solutions
of strong earthquakes confirmed the existence of one
transversal fault zone from Vlora to Elbasani and
Dibra with NE strike in inland of Albania; this
transversal fault zone continues towards NE into the
FYROM and towards SE into the Adriatic Sea. This
fault is very active in all its length in inland territory
and it is considered to be the most potential transversal
seismogenetic belt in Albania and nearby.
From the focal mechanism of the strongest earthquakes and microtectonic studies, it is concluded that
in this transversal fault the motions are strike-slip
dextral and generally transtensional.
It is necessary to undertake deep seismological,
seismotectonic and geophysical investigation to better
understand the nature and role of the tranversal fault
zone VED concerning seismotectonics of region.
Towards Southwest of Vlora Bay, near the strait of
Otranto, a small cluster of events is registered, which
is considered as very important. The focal mechanism solutions of two strongest earthquakes have been
obtained by different authors (DIngeo et al., 1980;
Sulstarova, 1986; Muo, 1994). The earthquakes are:
October 20, 1974, Ms = 4.9 (11 h 25 m, 39 57 N
18 87 E) and November 23, 1974, Ms = 4.7 (18 h
46 m, 39 74 N 18 94 E). In all solutions, one of
nodal plane has strike-direction NE and motions in the

131
fault are transpresional strike-slip dextral. This motion
is similar with the motions of transversal fault VED
zone.
Anderson and Jackson (1987) stressed in their
study that the boundary between Adria and Africa
may be located in the southern part of Adriatic Sea
near the Strait of Otranto (p. 976) . . . it must lie
between Sicily and Campania region of peninsula Italy
and probably crosses the Balkan coastline south of
Montenegro (p. 972). If this hypotheses is true and
based on the focal mechanism solution of two earthquakes mentioned above we think that this boundary
may be crossing the Balkan coastline near Vlora town,
continuing in the NE direction along the transversal
fault VED zone. Therefore, the Adriatic block which
is moving in the NE direction relative to Eurasia plate
and is rotating anticlockwise with pole of rotation in
Northern Italy, collides with the Albanian orogen. It is
responsible for the seismic activity and the style and
orientation of the deformation in Albanian orogen and
surrounding area.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to sincerely express their
thanks to Dr P. Suhadolc and Dr Herak for their
valuable remarks.

References
Aliaj, Sh., Melo, V., Hyseni, A., Skrami, J., Mehillka, Ll., Muo,
B., Sulstarova, E., Prifti, K., Pashko, P. and Prillo, S., 1996,
Neotectonic structure of Albania and its Geotectonic evolution,
Institute of Seismology, Tirana, Albania, 497 pp. (in Albanian).
Anderson, H. and Jackson, J., 1987, Active tectonics of the Adriatic
region. Geophys. J. R. Astron. Soc. 91, 937983.
Arsovski, M., 1970, Contemporary tectonic properties of some
seismic active zone in Yugoslavia, Bulgarian Acad. Sc. Earthquake Engineering Proceed. 3rd Europe Symposium Earthquake
Engineering, Sofia, pp. 181188.
Arsovski, M. and Hadzievski, D., 1970, Correlation between
neotectonics and seismicity of Macedonia, Tectonophysics 9,
129142.
Baker, C., Hatzfeld, D., Lyon-Caen, H., Papadimitrious, E. and
Rigo, D., 1997, Earthquake mechanisms of the Adriatic Sea and
Western Greece, Geophys. J. Int. 131, 559594.

Carey, E. and Mercier, I.L., 1987, A numerical method for determining the state of stress using focal mechanisms of earthquake populations: aplication to Tibetian teleseismas and microseismicity
of Southern Peru, Earth and Planet. Sci. Let. 82, 165179.
D Ingeo, G., Calgagnile, C.F. and Panza, 1980, On the fault-plane
solutions in the central eastern Mediterranean Region. Bolletino
di Geofisica Teorica ed Applicata, XXII, 85, 1322.
McKenzie, D., 1972, Active tectonics of the Mediterranean region.
Geophys. J. R. Astron. Soc. 30, 109185.
McKenzie, D., 1978, Active tectonics of the Alpine-Himalayan belt:
The Aegean Sea and surroundings region. Geophys. J. R. Astron.
Soc. 55, 217254.
Muo, B., 1992, Features of Albanian earthquakes and the role of
underground waters in their generation, Dr. Sc. Thesis, Seismological Center, Tirana, Albania, 150 pp. (in Albanian).
Muo, B., 1994, Focal mechanism solutions for Albanian earthquakes for the years 19641988, Tectonophysics 231, 311323.
Papazachos, C.B., Kiratzi, A.A. and Papazachos, B.C., 1992, Rates
of active crustal deformation in the Aegean and the surrounding
area, J. Geodynamics 16(3), 147179.
Sulstarova, E., 1974, The seismicity of Albania, Ms. Thesis,
Seismological Center, Tirana, Albania 172 pp. (in Albanian).
Sulstarova, E., 1986, The focal mechanism of Albanian earthquakes
and the field of actual tectonic stress in Albania. Dr. Sc. Thesis,
Seismological Center, Tirana, Albania, 230 pp. (in Albanian).
Sulstarova, E., 1987, The focal mechanism of earthquakes and
tectonic stress in Albania, Buletini i Shkencave Gjeologjike 4,
133170.
Sulstarova, E., 1988, The seismic faults in Albania, Proceedings of
first symposium on the Recent Trends in Seismology and Geophysics of Aegean Area, July 13, 1988, Thessaloniki, Greece,
pp. 164180.
Sulstarova, E., 1996, Catalogue of Albanian Earthquake occurred
before 1900 (II or III B.C 1900 A.D), Institute of Seismology,
Tirana, Albania, 40 pp. (manuscript, in Albanian).
Sulstarova, E. and Koiaj, S., 1969, The earthquake of November
30, 1967 and Vlora-Dibra Seismogenetic belt, Buletini i Univ.
Tirans, Ser. Shken. Nat. 2, 8595 (in Albanian).
Sulstarova, E. and Koiaj, S., 1975, Catalogue of Albania Earthquakes, Academy of Science, Tirana, Albania, 224 pp. (in
Albanian).
Sulstarova, E. and Koiaj, S., 1980, The Dibra (Albania) Earthquake
of November 30, 1967. Tectonophysics 67, 333343.
Sulstarova, E. and Koiaj, S., 1996, Atlas of Isoseismal Maps of
Albanain Earthquakes for the period 18001900, Institute of
Seismology, Tirana, Albania, 220 pp. (manuscript, in Albanian).
Sulstarova, E., Koiaj, S. and Aliaj, Sh., 1980, Seismic Zonation of
RPS Albania. Academy of Sciences, Tirana, Albania, 297 pp.
Sulstarova, E., Koiaj, S. and Pei, V., 1996, Catalogue of Albanian
Earthquakes for the period 19011995, Institute of Seismology,
Tirana, Albania, 350 pp. (manuscript, in Albanian).
Tagari, Dh., 1993, Etude neotectonique et seismotectonique des
Albanides: Analyse des deformations et geodynamique du
Langhien a lactuel. Dr. Sc. Thesis, Universite de Paris-Sud,
Centre dOrsay, 255 pp.