A devastating fire tore through a nightclub in the eastern town of Kocani, Macedonia, early Sunday, killing 59 people and injuring 155, authorities confirmed. The blaze erupted around 2:30 a.m. during a concert at Club Pulse, with officials suspecting pyrotechnics as the cause of the roof catching fire.
Videos from inside the club showed chaos as smoke filled the venue, with young attendees rushing to escape. Musicians on stage urged the crowd to evacuate as flames spread rapidly.
As families gathered outside hospitals for updates, Dragi Stojanov, a resident of Kocani, learned that his 21-year-old son, Tomce, had died in the fire. “He was my only child. I don’t need my life anymore,” he said. “One hundred and fifty families have been devastated.”
Authorities reported that the injured were transported to hospitals across the country, including the capital, Skopje, with many suffering severe burns. Volunteers and medical teams worked around the clock to assist victims. Health Minister Arben Taravari stated that 118 people remained hospitalized and confirmed that offers of assistance had come from neighboring Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia.
“All our capabilities have been put to use in an effort to save as many lives as possible,” Taravari said, visibly shaken.
The fire marks the worst tragedy in North Macedonia’s recent history. The landlocked nation has a population of under two million. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje, where she spoke with grieving parents.
“It’s terrible … hard to believe how this happened,” she said, her voice breaking. “We must give these young people courage to continue.”
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski called the incident a “difficult and very sad day for Macedonia,” expressing condolences to the victims’ families.
The nightclub, housed in a repurposed carpet warehouse, had been operating for several years, according to local media reports. The fire caused a partial collapse of the single-story building’s roof, exposing charred beams and debris. Authorities have launched an investigation into the club’s safety standards and licensing.
Ljubco Kocevski, a state prosecutor, confirmed that several individuals were being questioned by police, though no further details were provided. Interior ministry officials stated they would investigate potential violations of safety protocols, emphasizing the government’s commitment to holding those responsible accountable.
Police have made one arrest but have not disclosed the individual’s involvement.
Condolences have poured in from European leaders, including European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who said the EU “shares the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed sympathy, stating, “Ukraine mourns alongside our Macedonian friends on this sad day.”
Pyrotechnic-related nightclub fires have led to deadly incidents worldwide, including the 2015 Colectiv club fire in Bucharest, Romania, which killed 64 people.
