Skopje, 15 July 2024 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Monday he expects wildfires to be put under control “tomorrow or the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

In addition to the assistance from Turkey, which has already arrived, additional assistance is expected from Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia, Mickoski told reporters in Ohrid.

“Two aircrafts and one helicopters have arrived from Turkey. The two aircrafts have been already deployed to battle the blazes near Novo Selo municipality. The helicopter has taken off for the Negotino region. We expect assistance and support also from Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia in terms of aircrafts because the blazes are in rugged terrain,” he stated. 

Earlier, Crisis Management Center (CMC) director Stojanche Angelov announced that two Turkish “Air Tractor” firefighting planes and a helicopter landed at the Skopje airport before joining the efforts to combat wildfires in Serta Mountain and Ograzhden. 

Late on Saturday, the government declared a 30-day state of crisis allowing the army and the police to join the firefighting efforts. 

MIA file photo