The forest fire that erupted on Monday above Lake Mladost near Veles is still burning near Bashino village and the Dine landfill, according to the Crisis Management Center.

According to the latest information from the teams on the ground, the fire above Lake Mladost near Veles, is still active. The upper part of the lake is under control, but there are spans extending back to Bashino Selo and the Dine landfill near the highway, the Center informed.

Traffic from the Skopje-Veles highway, from the intersection of Bashino village to the entrance to the city of Veles, is redirected along the regional road Lake Mladost to Veles due to the fire.

So far, no injuries have been reported in the Veles fire, but major damage was done to a restaurant near the lake. The Glorius Hotel is saved. An entire farm burned down.

More than 50 soldiers, TTPE teams, helicopters and two PRD planes, which stopped the operation tonight due to reduced visibility, are fighting the flames on the ground, and firefighters from Skopje were also deployed in Veles.

Four construction workers from Veles who had been using an angle grinder were arrested under suspicion of causing the fire.