A wave of devastating wildfires swept across North Macedonia on Wednesday, with over 20 active blazes threatening lives, homes, and critical infrastructure.
Authorities have declared a nationwide “state of crisis”, as flames, fanned by strong winds and scorching temperatures, engulf large swathes of the country — including the outskirts of the capital, Skopje.
The National Crisis Management Centre confirmed that 21 wildfires were raging as of late Wednesday, a number that continues to rise as emergency crews battle against time and terrain.
“This is a national emergency. The fires are moving fast, some toward densely populated areas. We are deploying every available resource,” a spokesperson for the centre stated.
In a haunting development, Skopje was shrouded in thick smoke as new fires ignited around the city. One blaze at an illegal landfill site just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the capital’s heart injured at least one person and sparked public health warnings.
Elsewhere, police discovered a body near a wildfire in a village close to Kriva Palanka, near the eastern border. The cause of death has not yet been determined, but the tragedy has amplified growing concerns over safety and emergency preparedness.
In the south, Dojran’s mayor, Ango Angov, made an urgent call for aerial firefighting support as flames approached the village of Nikolic and a nearby steel factory. In the east, Kriva Palanka’s mayor issued a desperate appeal for volunteers, as local teams struggled to contain multiple fires.
In a commendable act of cross-border support, Greece dispatched two firefighting aircraft and two fire trucks to assist Macedonian efforts in Dojran, as reported by the state-run MIA news agency.
This rapid response echoes similar cooperation seen during previous wildfires across the Balkans and Mediterranean, underscoring the growing necessity of regional disaster response networks in an era of climate volatility.
In a decisive move, President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova authorized the deployment of 150 soldiers to assist overwhelmed firefighting units — a rare step that underscores the severity of the crisis.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Pance Toskovski revealed that while high temperatures and strong winds remain primary factors, there is “reasonable suspicion” of arson behind several of the outbreaks.
As the fires continue to rage, North Macedonia finds itself at a dangerous crossroads — between a worsening climate reality and the urgent need for stronger infrastructure, policy, and public awareness. The days ahead will be critical in determining whether this tragedy becomes a turning point or a warning unheeded.or a warning unheeded.
