Skopje storm inflicts extensive damage and dozens injured

A severe windstorm swept Skopje and its surrounding municipalities on July 21‑22 2026, with gusts reaching up to 130 km/h. The storm knocked down hundreds of trees, ripped roofs, damaged vehicles, disrupted power and caused several fires. Official tallies recorded 117 damaged cars, 35 roof breaches, 189 fallen trees, seven damaged traffic lights and five fires. Over 9 000 emergency calls were logged with the Crisis Management Centre receiving more than 12 000 calls in total.

Medical services treated at least 33 injured people, with nine patients admitted to the Trauma Unit and two hospitalized for serious injuries; additional patients were examined in two other clinics. Hospitals reported a surge of patients, and the city’s health authorities confirmed that all injuries were stable. Municipal leaders, including the mayor of Karpos, launched on‑site cleanup teams and appealed for citizen assistance. Coordination meetings of Skopje’s mayors resulted in the formation of damage‑assessment commissions and a call for an emergency compensation fund. The incident also sparked criticism of the city’s civil‑protection preparedness and spurred discussions on improving early‑warning and response systems.