Gostivar water crisis triggers state of emergency in North Macedonia

Interior Minister Panče Toshkovski has announced that the government declared a state of crisis in the Gostivar municipality to address a water contamination issue. Toshkovski stated that the local municipality lacked the technical resources and capacity to manage the situation effectively.

The government intervention involved a technical solution developed with assistance from professionals from Vodovod Skopje, who worked alongside local services to restore access to clean drinking water. The process took approximately one month to resolve.

Toshkovski criticized previous administrative approaches, alleging that past officials had withheld information regarding water contamination from citizens. He noted that the Public Prosecutor's Office is currently conducting an investigation to ensure accountability for any negligence or misconduct that led to the crisis.