A column of trucks, trailers, and tankers, stretching over two kilometers, remains stuck on the Skopje ring road following a temporary traffic ban for freight vehicles. The ban was implemented due to a fire near Blace that approached the main road leading to the border crossing.

Despite freight traffic being reopened this morning, vehicles are lined up on the ring road from before the Mirkovci interchange to the interchange for Pristina.

Yesterday afternoon, traffic to the Blace border crossing was completely halted because of a substantial fire above the Skopje-Blace highway.

The Crisis Management Center (CMC) reports that the fire near Blace is still active, but the area around the highway has been extinguished.

According to CMC spokesperson Nadica Vckova, the area near the highway is completely extinguished, and pilots fighting the fire on the opposite side have reported smoke near a quarry, but it’s contained and far from the highway.

The Ministry of Interior (MVR) states that there are currently no traffic restrictions to and from the Blace border crossing for either passenger or freight vehicles.

The MVR told “Makfax” that freight vehicles have been allowed to pass alternately since this morning, in coordination with Kosovo authorities, to prevent further congestion.

Fire brigades and two helicopters from the Ministry of Interior are currently involved in extinguishing the fire, which continues to burn mixed forest and low vegetation in the higher areas near Blace.