More than 21 people have been killed and over 600 more injured after Albania was rocked by its strongest earthquake in decades, informed Euronews Albania, though many expect the number to increase.

"Significant damage is likely and the disaster is potentially widespread," the United States Geological Survey says in its damage estimate, quoted by npr.org. It adds that economic damages will likely be more than USD 100 million, noting that previous earthquakes of this severity "have required a regional or national level response."

The epicenter was 10 kilometers northwest of Shijak, between Durres (population 122,034) and the capital, Tirana (population 375,000), at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey.