Arachinovo landfill fire sparks criticism over institutional negligence

The Levica political party has issued a statement regarding a recurring fire at the landfill in Arachinovo, noting that smoke from the blaze is spreading toward Skopje. The party criticized local institutions for a lack of accountability, alleging that various agencies—including the Crisis Management Center and the local municipality—are shifting responsibility to one another rather than resolving the issue.

Citizens have reported physical symptoms such as throat and nose irritation and watery eyes due to the smoke. Levica is calling for the immediate extinguishing of the fire, criminal accountability for institutional negligence, and continuous monitoring of air quality. The party highlighted that the situation reflects a systemic problem with illegal landfills and irresponsible waste management in North Macedonia, which poses a direct threat to public health and the environment.