Skopje, 18 August 2024 (MIA) - Director of the Crisis Management Center (CMC), Stojanche Angelov, said in a video statement Sunday afternoon that the fire on Galichica has been extinguished. New fires have broken out on Mount Plachkovica and in the municipality of Ilinden, while the fire in the Probishtip area, near the village of Neokazi, has reignited.

Throughout August, up until yesterday, there were a total of 667 wildfires reported across the country. Among these, 98 were forest fires, many of which spread and, as Angelov pointed out, were challenging to extinguish.

“As of 1:00 pm today, we have a total of 25 fires in open areas and forests. Of these, six have been entirely put out, nine are under control, and 10 are still active. The first good news is that the fire on Galichica has been fully extinguished. The fire that has been raging for over 25 days in the 'Jasen' hunting area and advancing toward the village of Belica, while not yet extinguished, is now significantly reduced in size,” Angelov said and expressed hope that rain in the afternoon will completely put it out.

He also mentioned that there are major fires in the municipalities of Plasnica, Debar, and in Dolneni near the village of Ropotovo, where two fires are burning.

Angelov reported that a new fire has just broken out on Mount Plachkovica, at the border between the Shtip region and the Karbinci municipality. An 'air tractor' has been urgently deployed by the Protection and Rescue Directorate.

Photo: MIA archive

Video: CMC