Large fire blankets Shtip–Kocani expressway, traffic halted before rain put it out
Smoke and flames from a stubble fire covered the Shtip–Kocani expressway; officials say returning rain helped extinguish the blaze.
A large blaze spread across the express road between Shtip and Kocani on Thursday evening, filling the carriageway with smoke and forcing traffic to stop, witnesses and footage from the scene show.
Stojance Angelov of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue said the fire started on a stubble field and was extinguished after rain returned to the area.
Video clips circulated on social media show dense smoke and visible flames over and around the roadway, sharply reducing visibility and making it unsafe for vehicles to continue. Drivers were seen stopping rather than attempting to pass through the smoke.
Traffic advice and local impact
Authorities urged motorists, where possible, to use alternative routes and to avoid the affected stretch until conditions improve. Road users were also advised to drive with caution and vigilance in nearby sections.
The footage shared on Facebook by the page "Vesti od Istokot" captured the extent of the smoke column and the disruption to traffic on the expressway.
Report: Miomir Serafinovic
Photo: press material from the event
