Skopje, 15 September 2025 (MIA) - Radiation levels in air and soil samples taken after the Trubarevo fire show no deviations, and no heavy metals were found in water samples from the affected area. Results on radiation in water and heavy metals in soil are expected on Tuesday, according to the Public Health Institute (PHI).

The Public Health Institute said that it is in ongoing coordination with the Environmental Inspectorate, the Ministry of Health and other relevant state institutions.

"Yesterday, we sent a trained expert team from the institute to the affected area. Samples of water, soil, and air were taken for testing radioactivity, as well as water (tap water, wells) and soil samples for physicochemical analysis. Today, the Institute of Public Health received results from the air and soil samples tested for ionizing radiation, and these values are within normal reference ranges, without deviation. The results of the water samples for ionizing radiation, according to the testing method, will be available tomorrow,” the PHI noted.

Results indicate that water samples show no deviations in heavy metal levels based on physicochemical analysis. The only notable finding in the water samples was an increased content of organic matter in the groundwater from an external source.

Regarding the soil samples taken for the presence of heavy metals, the PHI said that the results, according to the testing method, will be available tomorrow.

The fire broke out at a waste recycling facility in the Skopje village of Trubarevo around 2 p.m. on Saturday.  

Photo: MIA archive