Three arrested after mass poisoning linked to North Macedonia water supply

Three people were arrested on Monday over a mass poisoning in North Macedonia that officials said was allegedly caused by contaminated river water entering a town's drinking supply during high temperatures.

Health authorities said more than 3,100 people had been treated for poisoning symptoms in Gostivar, about 50 kilometres southwest of Skopje. Officials declared an epidemic in Gostivar on Sunday after a rise in gastroenteritis cases over the past week. Health Minister Saso Klekovski said four people had been hospitalised.

Police said on Friday that they were investigating the cause and believed the local water company may have pumped wastewater directly into the town's water supply. On Monday, police said the director of the local water supply company and two employees had been arrested on suspicion of polluting the water in Gostivar's pipeline.

Klekovski and prosecutors did not immediately disclose water sample test results. Klekovski said the water appeared to connect the cases, but said that had to be confirmed by the results.

The health crisis came as temperatures rose above 35C. The national food and veterinary agency banned use of the water on Friday despite not yet having test results. Residents were advised to use bottled water, and the government said it would deliver 50,000 litres of water to the town each day.

Seven days after the first cases were reported, Gostivar mayor Valbon Limani ordered the creation of a crisis headquarters to respond to the situation. The interior ministry said it was working to fully clarify the case and said polluting drinking water could be considered a crime.