Van with Macedonian plates burns near Lushnja, more than half of chickens perish
A van with Macedonian plates caught fire near Kemishtaj; initial findings point to an air‑conditioning fault in the cargo area.
On the morning of 8 August 2026 a cargo van bearing Macedonian registration plates caught fire near the road leading to Kemishtaj, close to Lushnja in Albania.
The vehicle was carrying a load of chickens transported from North Macedonia. The driver noticed the fire after leaving the motorway and turning toward Kemishtaj.
The Lushnja Fire Service arrived quickly and extinguished flames that had spread to the driver’s cabin. Despite the rapid intervention, the damage was extensive: a large portion of the cargo was destroyed and "more than half of the birds perished."
Investigation under way
According to initial assessments by the Lushnja Fire Service, the blaze began because of a technical fault in the air-conditioning system located in the rear of the vehicle where the cargo was stowed.
An investigative team continues working at the scene to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident.
Photo: press material from the event
