site.btaNorth Macedonia Battles Nine Active Wildfires, Activates European Civil Protection Mechanism

By early afternoon, a total of 15 fires had been reported in the North Macedonia, nine of which are still active, the country's Crisis Management Center announced on Monday.

The most significant and longest-lasting fire is in the municipalities of Vasilevo, Radovish, and Berovo, where low-lying forest, bushes, and spruce trees are burning in the Golem Goten and Maleshevska mountains. The fire near the village of Besiste, Prilep Municipality, is worrying because intervention is difficult as the fire is spreading along the front line from World War I and explosions can be heard, with the fire spreading towards the village of Gradeshnica and the border with Greece.

Mixed forests and low vegetation are burning in the forest belt between the municipalities of Prilep and Kavadarci, fires continue in the municipalities of Makedonski Brod and Zhelino, in the municipalities of Kriva Palanka and Makedonska Kamenica, The flames have engulfed a pine forest, where 30 army personnel are also participating in the extinguishing efforts. In the municipality of Caska, a beech forest is burning, and in the Skopje Municipality of Ilinden, the fire has engulfed stubble fields.

Burning stubble fields closed the Medzitlija border crossing between North Macedonia and Greece on Sunday, with cars being redirected to the other border crossing between the two countries, Bogorodica.

On Sunday, a total of 51 fires were reported across the country, according to the Crisis Management Center. Stojance Angelov, Director of the Protection and Rescue Directorate, announced that North Macedonia has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism. Responses have been received from Slovenia and France.