In 1997 and 2004 , nearly 100 people lost their lives trying to illegally cross the strait following the 1997 unrest in Albania and poor economic conditions in the Tragedy of Otranto and the Karaburun tragedy .
In 1997 and 2004 , nearly 100 people lost their lives trying to illegally cross the strait . This was following the 1997 unrest in Albania and poor economic conditions in the Tragedy of Otranto and the Karaburun tragedy .