Mayor Orce Gjorgievski launches mountain rescue service and advances BRT project in Skopje

Skopje mayor Orce Gjorgievski announced the establishment of a mountain rescue service covering the Vodno area and the Canyon Matka region. The service will provide first aid, evacuation and safe transport for injured people, conduct regular trainings and simulation exercises, and install blood‑pressure monitoring stands for visitors. The project is funded with a budget double that of the previous year to improve equipment and preparedness.

Gjorgievski also reported that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Skopje has entered the implementation phase after final coordination with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The BRT is intended to speed urban travel, reduce traffic congestion and enhance public‑transport safety without sacrificing existing street greenery; additional green spaces are planned. The initiative is part of a broader plan that includes new city trams, 100 new buses and optimisation of bus routes.

Separately, fire crews contained a blaze on difficult terrain near Valandovo, which authorities suspect was deliberately set. Citizens were warned against lighting fires or burning brush, with legal penalties emphasized.