Crisis Management Center coordinated the safe evacuation of two foreigners from the Piribeg area

At 08:22 today, the Crisis Management Center (CMC) received a report through the Single Emergency Call Number 112 about two foreign nationals who, while ascending toward the peak of Piribeg, were caught in bad weather. They took shelter in a mountain facility on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, near the border with the Republic of Kosovo.

An assessment of access to the site showed that from North Macedonia the facility could only be reached on foot. Due to the weather conditions, the journey there would have taken over six hours in one direction. Helicopter intervention from this side was also not possible, due to rain and fog. From the Kosovo side, however, there were passable roads from the ski center in Brezovica to the facility where the two people were located.

After receiving the report, the Regional Crisis Management Center (RCMC) – Tetovo notified the relevant institutions: the Police Station in Tearce, the Emergency Center (EC) in Tetovo, the Directorate for Protection and Rescue – Regional Unit in Tetovo, and the head of the RCMC – Tetovo. In addition, the Operational Duty Center at the CMC notified the sector head, the deputy head of this center, and the Director’s Cabinet.

At the instruction of the CMC director, the head of the RCMC – Tetovo contacted the National Forests public enterprise – Tetovo branch. This enterprise indicated that colleagues in Kosovo would be notified to organize the evacuation. Since the terrain was more easily accessible from Kosovo, it was assessed that the most suitable approach was to transport the people by vehicle via the road on the Kosovo side. During the coordination, the Kosovo Mountain Search and Rescue Service was also contacted.

At 11:45, the Operational Duty Center at the CMC communicated directly with one of the nationals, first by phone call and then by SMS. He was informed that a team from Kosovo would arrive to evacuate them safely.

Information relayed at 14:21 from the Kosovo Mountain Search and Rescue Service confirmed that the teams were maintaining continuous communication with the two people. Both foreign nationals were in good health and their evacuation was expected to be carried out around 16:00.

At 16:50, the CMC was informed that the two nationals had been found in good health and were being transported to a location in Shterpce, Republic of Kosovo.

Throughout the operation, the Crisis Management Center coordinated communication between the competent services of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Kosovo to enable the safe evacuation of the people.