Landfill burning near Stenkovec, thick black smoke over Skopje

Thick black smoke is rising over parts of Skopje after a fire broke out this afternoon near the Stenkovec sports airfield. An illegal landfill with accumulated waste was burning, creating a large, smoldering surface and emitting dense, unpleasant-smelling smoke.

Fires in the region complicate the response

The director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DPR), Stojanche Angelov, said that Skopje firefighters are already on the scene and operating at Stenkovec.

"A black smoke is rising like an atomic bomb. The Skopje firefighters have arrived on site. A larger area is affected and dry grass is burning; it will be difficult to contain. It has been active for a longer time, accumulated waste is burning, which will produce even more smoke, denser smoke, and in the coming period Skopje residents will feel an even stronger smell of smoke," Angelov said.

The fire at Stenkovec further worsens the situation with fires in the Skopje region, where multiple hotspots are active at the same time. The wind is also carrying smoke from the large fire in the Ramno area, on Skopska Crna Gora, which has been burning for two days.

Angelov earlier provided details about the intervention in Ramno, in the Municipality of Chucher-Sandevo: "This behind me is the large smoke from the fire in the area of Ramno, on Skopska Crna Gora, in the Municipality of Chucher-Sandevo. For two days we have been trying to bring it under control, but the strong wind further aggravates the situation. The wind is blowing in the direction of Skopje and the smoke is spreading toward the city. Part of Skopje already feels the smell of smoke. During the day we are also operating with a police helicopter. The Skopje firefighters are there, supported by Pinzgauer vehicles of the DPR, and 30 members of the Army are on site. Their task is to prevent the fire from crossing the road. At the moment there is no danger to the surrounding villages. The fire is in a very deep valley, about 1,600 meters long, and it will be a problem to bring it under control. There is a lot of smoke in the valley, which does not allow action. I expect the smell of smoke to be felt as long as the wind blows in this direction. The Hydrometeorological Service expects a northwesterly wind this afternoon, so the smell should be felt for a few more hours, until the evening hours," Angelov said.

Authorities say that the accumulated waste at Stenkovec and the difficult situation in Ramno are complicating firefighting efforts. Teams continue to operate from land and air, and army forces are also on the ground, while citizens have been warned to expect smoky conditions as the wind carries smoke toward the city.

Photo: DPR)