Ohrid, 15 August 2024 (MIA) - The wildfire burning on the Macedonian side of Galichica Mountain is under control and there is no risk to inhabited areas and the population living nearby, said Kiril Pecakov, the Mayor of Ohrid, in a post on social media on Thursday.

According to Pecakov, around 120 people are currently engaged in the efforts to extinguish the fire, as well as two helicopters. Three firefighting airplanes are also expected to be deployed during the day.

“The situation with the fire on the side of Prespa is more specific since it is raging in an area with denser and thicker vegetation, which complicates the efforts to put it out. The ground firefighting efforts are also made more difficult by the fact there are old weapons and explosive devices in the area. Just yesterday more than 40 explosions were heard. We hope and believe that the fire will be localized and its further spread prevented today,” Pecakov wrote.

The Mayor reiterated his urge to the media and citizens not to cause panic, to share verified information and to get their information from relevant sources. 

Photo: Kiril Pecakov