Distinguished journalists,

The Coordinative Body of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for dealing with the aftermath of the floods held a meeting this morning where the representatives of the teams reported on the conditions on the ground during the course of the previous day on the cites that were visited and for the need of future activities which are in the direction of enhanced observation, tracking, analysis and intervention reaction to the situation.

It has been agreed to continue in that course during today’s activities for setting a stone embankment in Peshtani, on the road towards the Republic of Albania, and at the same time to continue with the forming of embankments of sandbags and bags of dirt in the foreshore of the Ohrid Lake at Kalishta and Radozhda, as a prevention from erosion of the soil as a result of the increased water level.

The Coordinative Body of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia decided if required, to place embankments of sandbags on other locations as well.

On the meeting it was concluded the Ministry of Transport and Communications to coordinate with the local self-government regarding the possible prevention on part of the collector system in Ohrid.

In the region of Pelagonija, in the area of the channel system that was damaged, it has been intervened with the goal of the channel having its own protective function.

On the meeting of the Coordinative Body it was concluded to closely follow the status of the road Mavrovo – Debar. In that direction and because of the possibility of rockslides and landslides, we appeal that caution is required from everyone who moves in this road.

In the area of Tetovo and Gostivar the riverbeds are still being worked on, where because of debris, normal water flow was disabled. In this region the activities for setting embankments of sandbags in the village of Malo Turchane have been completed. The road towards the channel has also been repaired in this village.

The condition of the road from Bitola to Resen was also inspected on today’s meeting. The teams from “Makedonija Pat” are working on repairing the road.

According to the information from JP “Makedonija Pat” and the MOI, the traffic on this road is being diverted to the regional road R106. The divert road is 5.5 km long. The traffic on this road is proceeding normally and without delays.

The Coordinative Body is informing the public that during the course of yesterday and today embankments of sandbags were placed by 12:00 hours in the locations where preventive measures are undertaken; more than 13,000 bags have been placed.

In the previous two days more than 300 persons have been engaged, who are actively involved in the preventive measures and activities. The number of engaged persons is defined in accordance with the planned activities and condition on the ground. The teams are from the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, ARM, Makedonija Pat as well as the other institutions that are participating in the Coordinative Body of the Government.

During the course of today the teams from the Coordinative Body are on the ground once again. According to the defined agenda, the team led by Minister Koinjanovski is in the region of Debar, the team led by Minister Dimovski is in Ohrid and Struga, the team led by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications is in the Poloshko region, the team led by the Director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue is on the road between Debar and Struga at Lukovo and the team led by the Director of the Water Management, Metodija Tomoski, is in the region of Pelagonija.

The Coordinative Body is once again today informing the public about the free telephone line 195, where they can report any kind of water level spill in the Republic of Macedonia, the appearance of rockslides and similar natural disasters.

Thank you for your attention.