Europe’s worst drought in decades is disrupting transport, energy and agriculture, with the Balkans increasingly feeling the impact of extreme heat and water shortages.

While several countries in the region are struggling with falling river levels and water supply challenges, North Macedonia is facing another major consequence of extreme heat and dry weather: a surge in wildfires.

Temperatures in Skopje reached 37°C on August 3 and 4, as the country remained under a heatwave expected to continue until the end of the week. The prolonged period of extreme heat, combined with dry vegetation and a lack of significant rainfall, has created ideal conditions for wildfires to spread.

According to the Crisis Management Center (CMC), 14 open-air fires were registered across North Macedonia by 6 pm CET on August 4. One fire remained active, four were under control, while nine had been extinguished.

The Kavadarci region was the hardest hit, after a large wildfire became one of the most difficult interventions among around 30 fires recorded across the country the previous day.

The fire near Kavadarci has been almost completely brought under control and is expected to be fully extinguished by the end of the day, according to Stojance Angelov, director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue.

Two “air tractors”, as well as army and police helicopters, were deployed to fight the blaze on August 3, while three “air tractors” continued operations from the early morning hours on August 4. Firefighters on the ground played a key role in containing the flames.

Angelov said the intervention was particularly challenging because the fire spread across steep and inaccessible terrain covered with dense vegetation.

Kavadarci Mayor Mitko Jancev said the fire started in five separate locations located between 500 and 700 metres apart, raising suspicions that it may have been deliberately started.

Despite the scale of the fire, authorities said that high-stem forests were not affected and that nearby settlements and residents’ property were protected.

Water crisis adds to pressure

At the same time, parts of North Macedonia are dealing with another challenge: water safety.

In Gostivar, tap water remains unsuitable for drinking and cooking after tests confirmed continued contamination of the local water supply system. The pollution in Gostivar was caused by contaminated surface water entering the city’s drinking water system.

Prosecutors said that pumps installed in a polluted canal near an overflow chamber were still operating, with hoses allowing water containing coliform bacteria to flow into the chamber supplying drinking water, triggering a health crisis and an investigation into suspected environmental crimes.

The investigation comes after an epidemic was declared in Gostivar due to a surge in stomach-related illnesses, with local health authorities reporting around 250-300 new cases per day.

Following a meeting of the Main Crisis Headquarters on August 4, authorities said water from the city’s network can only be used for technical purposes until further notice.

Drinking water is being supplied to residents through canisters, Interior Minister Panche Toskovski said.

He added that chlorine levels had reached the maximum legally permitted level acceptable under the current crisis conditions and that chlorine had been detected at consumption points monitored by authorities.

However, the latest analyses confirmed that the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa is still present in Gostivar’s water supply network, meaning restrictions remain in place.

The contamination has created additional pressure during an already difficult summer period marked by extreme heat and increased demand for water. Authorities have been carrying out repeated analyses, while the Main Crisis Headquarters has kept restrictive measures in place until the water is declared safe.

For the Balkans, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 35°C and water resources are already under pressure, the events in North Macedonia are another reminder that climate risks are becoming a recurring reality affecting daily life, agriculture, energy security and public safety.