At least 59 people have died and more than 155 are injured following a devastating nightclub fire in North Macedonia, according to official reports.
The blaze erupted around 02:30 (01:30 GMT) at Pulse nightclub in Kocani, a town approximately 100 km east of Skopje. Approximately 1,500 people were attending a concert by DNK, a popular hip-hop duo in the country, when the disaster occurred.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described it as a “difficult and very sad day” for North Macedonia, lamenting the loss of many “young lives.” Interior Minister Pance Toskovski announced arrest warrants for four individuals without providing further details. A man has already been detained, and state news agency Mia reported the club owner has been arrested.
According to preliminary investigations, the fire started when sparks from pyrotechnic devices struck the ceiling, which was constructed of highly flammable material. Verified footage shows the band performing when two flares ignite, with sparks quickly setting the ceiling ablaze and rapidly spreading.
Video evidence obtained by the BBC shows patrons attempting to extinguish the ceiling flames. The footage reveals the club was still full, with many people watching firefighting efforts rather than evacuating.
Marija Taseva, 20, recounted to Channel 5 TV how she was caught in a stampede as people rushed toward exits. She fell and was trampled during the chaos before managing to escape. Her family continues searching for her 25-year-old sister, who hasn’t been located at local hospitals and may have been transferred to Skopje for treatment.
Toskovski initially reported 51 deaths with approximately 100 injured, later updating that 35 of the deceased had been identified. Local media indicates the government plans to declare seven days of national mourning and will conduct urgent inspections of all nightclubs and restaurants hosting large gatherings.
Kocani’s hospital director earlier stated that medical staff struggled to identify patients due to missing identification. She reported that those who died were between 14 and 24 years old. Eighteen patients remain in critical condition.
The prime minister stated the government is “fully mobilised and will do everything necessary to deal with the consequences and determine the causes of this tragedy.”
DNK, formed in 2002, has been a chart-topping musical act in North Macedonia over the past decade.
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