Skopje, 5 January 2026 (MIA) — The highest representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior have urged members of the public to refrain from using firecrackers and other pyrotechnics. “They are not toys and can cause serious, permanent and irreversible injuries,” they told a press conference Monday.

On behalf of the government, they reiterated that the holidays should be a time for joy and for creating beautiful memories – without any risk to health and safety.

According to Minister of Health Azir Aliu, seven people were hospitalized on New Year's Eve for injuries from firework accidents.

"We need to repeat this message over and over each year, because the unauthorized use of pyrotechnics still results in dangerous consequences," Minister Aliu said.

"On New Year's Eve, two adults and five children were hospitalized with serious finger injuries, some of which required amputation. 

"The fact there are children among the injured, and some of them have had to have an amputation, clearly speaks of how serious the consequences are," he said.

Aliu also stressed that the use of pyrotechnics is illegal.

Minister of Interior Panche Toshkovski said the police had seized over 252,000 firecrackers and other pyrotechnics in 2025. He also said 32 people were taken into custody for breaking the law. 

In one recent police raid, Toshkovski said, the police had seized over 35 tons of pyrotechnics and arrested a fellow police officer.

Recalling the "Say No to Pyrotechnics" campaign to raise public awareness of the dangers of using firecrackers and fireworks, Toshkovski urged parents to protect their children from access to them. He said the damage they can cause by playing with pyrotechnics could be permanent and irreversible.

Plastic Surgery Clinic director Jasmina Gjorgjievska Pavlovska said this was the ninth year the clinic was running its "Create Memories Without Injuries" campaign.

"We are sending this message to everyone, to the entire nation: Let's have beautiful memories without any injuries. Let's be healthy, all of us," she said.

She added that in December 2025, as part of the campaign, 13,659 students from 135 elementary and high schools across 26 cities had attended their interactive lectures. mr/