Toxic mine spill in North Macedonia

Last week, an accident at the Toranica lead-zinc mine resulted in the severe pollution of the Kriva River, putting the health and food safety of the surrounding area at risk. Sasko Mitovski, mayor of the local town of Kriva Palanka, said he is seeking criminal liability for those responsible for the accident, citing alarming contamination levels in the river. He is calling on the Public Prosecutor’s Office to urgently act against the perpetrators. Water samples taken after the accident at the Toranica mine show alarmingly increased concentrations of toxic substances, including lead, cyanide, phosphorus, and nitrogen. In the case of lead, for example, there has been a ten-fold increase in concentration. These extremely high levels threaten human health and, through contamination of water and soil, endanger crops and livestock.
MP Emil Spasovski and representatives of the State Environmental Inspectorate have been accused of misleading the public, claiming after the accident that water was safe without evidence. The municipality of Kriva Palanka stated that “irresponsibility and populism must not be a feature of the system that should protect the safety of citizens.” It will now ask for support from the central government to repair the damage and prevent further accidents in the future.