Gostivar water crisis continues as contamination persists

Gostivar water crisis water contamination North Macedonia public health emergency bacterial contamination

For four weeks, the city of Gostivar in North Macedonia has faced a severe water crisis following contamination that has left residents without safe drinking water. Stojance Angellov, Director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, reported that while recent analyses show a significant reduction in bacterial counts and a gradual stabilization of water quality, the water remains unfit for drinking or cooking and can only be used for technical purposes.

The contamination has led to significant health issues, with the opposition party LSDM claiming nearly 5,000 people have been hospitalized due to the water. The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating potential environmental crimes, specifically targeting the acting director of the public utility company 'Komunalec' Gostivar and other technical staff.

Political tension has escalated as the LSDM accused the government and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of providing contradictory information and failing to protect citizens' rights. Meanwhile, the state prosecutor has requested that citizens be exempt from paying water bills until the supply issue is resolved. The Food and Veterinary Agency is expected to confirm when the water is chemically and bacteriologically safe for consumption.

Entities

Agency for Food and Veterinary · Directorate for Protection and Rescue · Food and Veterinary Agency · Gostivar · Komunalec · Komunalec Gostivar · LSDM · Sasho Klekovski · Social Democratic Union of Macedonia · Stojanche Angelov · Stojançe Angellov

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The state prosecutor has requested that citizens be exempt from paying water bills until the supply issue is resolved. skopje1.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating officials for suspected environmental crimes related to water contamination. 360stepeni.mk
[● 3 SOURCES] The Protector of Citizens (Ombudsman) has opened a case to investigate the violation of citizens' rights to clean water. opserver.mk · 360stepeni.mk · libertas.mk
[● 2 SOURCES] Health Minister Sasho Klekovski announced that the results of the drinking water analysis for Gostivar would be released by August 20. 360stepeni.mk · libertas.mk
[● 3 SOURCES] LSDM claims that nearly 5,000 people ended up in hospitals due to the water contamination. opserver.mk · tv21.tv · telegrafi.com
[● 2 SOURCES] An investigation is underway involving the acting director of the public utility company 'Komunalec' Gostivar and other technical staff. 360stepeni.mk · libertas.mk
[DISPUTED] The water in Gostivar remains unfit for drinking and cooking, though it may be used for technical purposes. lajmpress.org · skopje1.mk · 360stepeni.mk · vesti.alfa.mk · koha.mk · +3 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Water quality in Gostivar is gradually improving and bacterial counts have significantly decreased. lajmpress.org · skopje1.mk · 360stepeni.mk · vesti.alfa.mk · sitel.com.mk · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The water in Gostivar remains unfit for drinking and cooking and is only authorized for technical use. lajmpress.org · skopje1.mk · 360stepeni.mk · vesti.alfa.mk · koha.mk · +2 more