Police in North Macedonia arrested the director and two employees of Gostivar's municipal water utility on July 20, 2026, amid investigation into the pumping of contaminated river water into the city's drinking supply. The detentions follow an outbreak that began on July 13 and has sent more than 1,500 people seeking medical care in the western city of about 30,000 residents.
Authorities declared an epidemic on July 19 as daily new cases of gastrointestinal illness reached 250 to 300, and banned residents from drinking tap water. Health Minister Saso Klekovski said four people were hospitalized. The utility allegedly installed pumps to draw directly from the Vardar River during a water shortage.
The government is distributing 50,000 litres of bottled water daily, with test results expected at a press conference on July 20. Gostivar last experienced a similar outbreak in October 2017, when roughly 450 residents fell ill.