The Government of North Macedonia has declared a 30-day state of crisis in the Municipality of Gostivar following the contamination of the local drinking water supply, an incident that has reportedly affected more than 1,000 residents.
The decision was adopted during the government’s 195th session following a recommendation from the Steering Committee, which includes relevant ministers and the heads of key state institutions.
According to the government, the emergency measure was introduced because local authorities were unable to effectively manage the situation on their own.
“Given that the local authorities are not in a position to deal with the situation in the Municipality of Gostivar, the Government adopted this decision to enable faster interinstitutional coordination, restore the water supply system, and ensure access to safe drinking water as soon as possible,” the government said in a statement.
Public Health Declared Top Priority
The government stressed that protecting public health remains its highest priority and said all relevant institutions have been mobilized to resolve the crisis and restore normal water supply.
Authorities did not immediately provide additional details on the source of the contamination but said efforts are underway to fully address the problem.
Prosecutors Ordered to Investigate
The government has also called on the Public Prosecutor’s Office to launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
“Those responsible for endangering the health and lives of the citizens of Gostivar must be held accountable,” the government stated.
The declaration of a state of crisis is expected to facilitate emergency coordination between national and local authorities and accelerate measures to restore safe drinking water to affected residents.
