At least 59 people were killed, and 155 others were injured after a fire tore through a nightclub in the eastern town of Kocani, North Macedonia’s Interior Minister Pance Toskovski confirmed on Sunday. Among the victims was a police officer.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the blaze at the “Pulse” nightclub, with police and prosecutors securing documents and interviewing those linked to the venue. State Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski pledged a “thorough and swift” investigation.
Deadly inferno
The fire broke out late Saturday during a performance by popular Macedonian duo DNK. One band member suffered burns and is receiving oxygen support, while the other was unharmed and has already been questioned by police.
Of the 59 confirmed dead, 35 victims have been identified, including 31 from Kocani and four from the nearby city of Stip.
According to Toskovski, the fallen police officer had been part of a pre-planned operation targeting drug trafficking and underage clubgoers. The officer, from Probistip, was due to receive an award for being the top police officer in the Stip police sector. “Tragically, he will now be honored posthumously,” Toskovski said.
In the aftermath, four people are being sought under a central warrant. “At this stage, I cannot disclose their identities,” Toskovski told reporters.
Victims and survivors
Survivors are being treated at hospitals in Kocani, Stip, and Skopje. Eighteen remain in critical condition, including minors. Health Minister Arben Taravari confirmed that 17 patients are at Skopje’s “8th September” hospital, 39 in Stip, and 30 in Kocani.
Kocani hospital director Kristina Serafimova described harrowing scenes as victims arrived with severe burns. “Some died en route or upon arrival. Many were unidentifiable, and families are now helping with identification,” she said. Victims range in age from 14 to 25.
A team of prosecutors has been deployed to Kocani, and initial findings point to pyrotechnics as a potential cause. Investigators are examining the building’s construction, licensing, and safety protocols. “We are issuing orders for expert analyses and collecting evidence,” Kocevski said.
National mourning declared
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced a seven-day national mourning period, starting Monday. “The loss of so many young lives is irreplaceable,” he said, urging authorities to mobilize support for victims’ families.
Neighboring Serbia will observe a day of mourning on March 18. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed condolences and offered assistance. “Serbia stands ready to help our friends in North Macedonia in any way we can,” he wrote on social media.
Condolences pour in
Messages of sympathy and support have poured in from across the region and beyond, including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
U.S. Ambassador Angela Aggeler expressed heartbreak. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims and their loved ones. The loss of so many young lives in a single community is a terrible tragedy,” she said.
As investigations continue, families gather outside hospitals, hoping for news of their loved ones. “Every minute feels like an eternity,” one distraught mother said. “We just want answers.”
