A devastating fire engulfed a nightclub in Kocani, a town in eastern North Macedonia, in the early hours of yesterday, leaving 59 people dead and 155 injured, authorities confirmed.
The fire erupted around 2:30 a.m. during a live performance at Club Pulse, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski stated.
Of the 59 victims, 39 have been identified so far, while 18 of the injured remain in critical condition.
Preliminary investigations suggest that pyrotechnics used during the concert may have ignited the ceiling.
Videos circulating online captured fireworks hitting the roof before the venue was consumed by flames.
Chaos unfolded as concertgoers scrambled to escape, with musicians on stage urging them to flee.
Grief-stricken families gathered outside hospitals and government offices, desperately seeking information about their loved ones.
Among them was Dragi Stojanov, who learned that his 21-year-old son, Tomce, was among the deceased.
Condolences have poured in from world leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Pope Francis, currently hospitalized with double pneumonia, also extended his sympathies.
Neighbouring countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia, have offered assistance to North Macedonia.
Health Minister Arben Taravari assured that all medical resources were being deployed to treat those injured, many of whom are suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation.
The fire is one of the deadliest disasters in North Macedonia’s recent history.
President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited survivors at a hospital in Skopje, consoling parents anxiously waiting for news. Fighting back tears, she vowed support for the victims, calling the incident “unimaginable.”
Authorities revealed that Club Pulse operated in a former carpet warehouse, a single-story structure that partially collapsed due to the intense blaze.
Police have sealed off the area as forensic experts and prosecutors investigate the cause of the tragedy.
