Skopje, 3 August 2021 (MIA) – The wildfire raging near Kochani has been localized thanks to the professionalism of firefighters and the assistance sent from all over the country and the solidarity of citizens, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said late Monday. “The system is functioning. Public safety was our top priority throughout the day. So far, there are no reports of people being injured,” Zaev wrote on Facebook adding that he will spend the night in Kochani with Health Minister Venko Filipche while Deputy PM Ljupcho Nikolovski and Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski are in the region affected by a wildfire in Kumanovo. He thanked the citizens for helping as well as the members of the media for “reporting on time, responsibly and accurately.” “Tomorrow morning we expect assistance to arrive from the neighbors. President Pendarovski spoke with Bulgarian President Radev and I spoke with Serbian President Vucic and Bulgarian PM Yanev,” Zaev said. The PM stressed that the authorities are monitoring the situation. “There’s no room for panic, the situation is under control and most wildfires are localized,” Zaev said. Also, Health Minister Venko Filipche said that no one was injured during attempts to extinguish the fire. “Dozen patients went to the Kochani hospital asking for treatment after having difficulties breathing. Some have been already discharged. We mobilized all medical personnel in hospitals in the region,” he told reporters. Confirming that the wildfire, which damaged several homes and left much of Kochani without power, is under control, Kochani Mayor Nikolcho Ilijev said he will leave it to relevant institutions to investigate what has caused the fire. “The most important thing now is to secure the city and to calm down the citizens because they are in safe hands. Firefighting brigades and the military have been deployed here to protect Kochani,” he stated. The Crisis Management Center’s assessment group will convene on Tuesday to review the gravity of the situation involving raging wildfires. Its head Stojanche Angelov, who is in Kochani to oversee efforts for putting out the wildfire, said that state of crisis nationwide or in parts of the country will be declared if necessary.