GOSTIVAR, North Macedonia — Authorities in North Macedonia have issued a strict ban on consuming municipal drinking water in Gostivar following a widespread health emergency that left over 1,200 residents hospitalized with symptoms of severe water poisoning.
Health officials at Gostivar’s “Dr. Ferid Murad” General Hospital reported an unprecedented influx of patients over recent days—including numerous children—suffering from acute stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Illegal Infrastructure Discovered
The health crisis prompted an emergency response from the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Gostivar, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Food and Veterinary Agency (AHV). During an urgent field inspection near the spring village of Vrutok, forensic investigators uncovered three illegally installed pumps connected directly to the main water main.
According to police reports, the unauthorized pumping system was allegedly installed to artificially boost pressure in the municipal network amidst recent summer water shortages. Consequently, untreated water from the nearby Vardar River was injected directly into the town’s primary drinking water system.
Official Ban & Criminal Investigation
Following the discovery, the Food and Veterinary Agency issued a total ban on the use of tap water for drinking and food preparation across Gostivar until comprehensive laboratory analyses verify its safety.
“This unauthorized intervention directly jeopardized the public health of the citizens of Gostivar,” police authorities stated, confirming that criminal proceedings are underway under Article 219 of the Criminal Code for the offense of “contamination of drinking water”.
Multiple state bodies—including the Institute of Public Health, the State Environmental Inspectorate, and licensed technical experts—are assessing the system’s structural damage and working to purge the municipal grid. State authorities and local emergency teams have begun delivering emergency bottled water supplies to assist affected residents while the contamination investigation continues.