Fire situation/ A border point between North Macedonia and Greece is closed

2024-07-17 17:27:47 / BOTA ALFA PRESS

Fire situation/ A border point between North Macedonia and Greece is closed
An important border crossing between North Macedonia and Greece, used by tourists, was closed on Wednesday, July 17, due to nearby fires, officials said.

The Ministry of the Interior of North Macedonia has confirmed the closure of the crossing point between the Macedonian village of Bogorodica and the Greek village of Evzoni.

This crossing point is used a lot by tourists traveling by car to Greece. According to public data in North Macedonia, this crossing is used by up to 20,000 people per day during the summer season.

"We call on the citizens not to travel to the border until the announcement that the fire has been extinguished and the traffic has normalized," the ministry said in a statement.

Greece's fire department said 39 firefighters, 13 fire engines and a helicopter were mobilized to put out the fires.

Local media have reported that the area is choked with smoke, as dozens of cars appear to be stuck on the Macedonian side of the border.

North Macedonia faced a series of fires last week as the country grappled with temperatures that soared above 40 degrees Celsius.

During an extraordinary meeting of the Government held over the weekend, officials in North Macedonia declared a state of crisis - but not a state of emergency - due to "an increase in fire outbreaks".

A state of emergency is declared when the public and properties face risks that may require the Government to use large resources to eliminate these risks.

The Macedonian government has approved the deployment of the police and army to fight the fires.

 

ideas