Skopje, 7 September 2025 (MIA) - Several people were injured in a fire that broke out late on Saturday at the Makprogres factory in Vinica, known for producing “Vincinni” confectionery products. The head of the Protection and Rescue Directorate, Stojanche Angelov, said the fire has been contained.

“Three production lines labeled 6, 7 and 8 (of which two warehouses) were on fire, they all had solar panels on the roof. Production lines 1 to 5 have been saved. The fire is fully contained. Firefighters from Vinica, Makedonska Kamenica, Delchevo, Kochani, Probishtip, Shtip, Strumica, Kavadarci, and Veles were engaged in the efforts to put out the fire,” Angelov said.

Angelov said several firefighters suffered burns on their feet after getting stuck in melted sugar in one of the factory units.

An anesthesiologist at the Kochani General Hospital told MIA on Sunday a total of eighteen people were hospitalized at the Kochani hospital after the fire. Some of them have been sent to Skopje, but they are all in a stable condition.

“Five of them are currently in the surgical department, four with first and second degree burns on their legs. The fifth patient in surgery has sustained inhalation (toxicological) injuries. Another five individuals injured in the Makprogres fire are being treated in the internal medicine department at the General Hospital in Kochani. All of them have smoke inhalation injuries confirmed by toxicological findings. Six other people were immediately transferred to a clinic in Skopje, all suffering from smoke poisoning. The remaining individuals left after receiving medical attention,” anesthesiologist Olivera Cimbaljevikj said.

Cimbaljevikj could not say how many of the injured were firefighters and how many were employees.