Weather Alert: Skopje (North Macedonia), Nationwide State of Crisis Due to the Outbreak of Major Wildfires

Location: Throughout North Macedonia. The current major affected areas include:

· Shtip region

· Pehchevo and Delchevo region

· Skopje region (Saraj)

· Bitola region

· Kumanovo region

· Veles region

· Tetevo region

· Strumica region

Event: On August 5, the Government of North Macedonia declared a nationwide state of crisis due to the outbreak of numerous major wildfires throughout the country. Currently, a ban on visits to forests throughout the country is in effect.

Given the unpredictable nature of wildfires, it is important to stay informed, to avoid areas with active wildfires, and to be prepared should an emergency arise. For the latest updates on the situation, please visit the Facebook page of the Government of North Macedonia’s Crisis Management Center. Although the page is in Macedonian, you can easily translate it by right clicking on the page and selecting “Translate to English” from the menu.

As a result of the increase in wildfires, there may also be periods of poor air quality. It is strongly recommended that you regularly monitor the air quality index (AQI) and stay indoors during period of orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) and red (unhealthy) AQI.

Actions to Take:

· Avoid areas with active wildfires.

· Monitor local media for updates.

· Follow local government directions to prevent forest fires.

· Notify friends and family of your safety.

· Be aware of your surroundings.

· Review your personal security plans.

For assistance:

· U.S. Embassy Skopje, North Macedonia

+ (389) 2-310-2000

SkopjeACS@state.gov

http://mk.usembassy.gov