The death toll from the Kochani nightclub fire has climbed to 60 following the death of Aleksandar Karadakovski, a 29-year-old man who had sustained severe burns and was transferred to a hospital in Lithuania for treatment, health authorities confirmed on Friday.
Karadakovski suffered extensive third-degree burns to his head, neck, and limbs in the March 15 fire that engulfed the “Puls” nightclub in the eastern Macedonian town of Kochani. He was intubated due to internal respiratory damage from smoke and flame inhalation.
“His condition deteriorated throughout the day. He required mechanical ventilation due to serious damage to the respiratory tract. Around 36% of his body was affected by deep burns,” said Nebojsha Nastov, director of “St. Naum Ohridski” hospital in Skopje. “This internal damage led to respiratory failure, and ultimately, his death.”
He was transferred to Lithuania by medical aircraft 24 hours after being admitted in North Macedonia.
Health Minister Arben Taravari added that Karadakovski’s condition worsened rapidly after his transfer. “He was sent on March 17, just two days after the tragedy in Kochani. On April 1, his kidneys failed, and he was placed on dialysis. He developed a high fever and infections due to the severity of second and third-degree burns,” Taravari said.
Karadakovski was also listed as the legal manager of “MMMM Café DOOEL,” the company operating the “Puls” nightclub. The public prosecutor’s office later dropped its investigation against him, as he became one of the fire’s victims.
The fire broke out in the early hours of March 15 during a packed weekend night at the “Puls” nightclub in Kochani, a town of roughly 30,000 residents. Witnesses reported hearing explosions before flames swept through the venue, trapping dozens of people inside.
Initial investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault or pyrotechnic malfunction. Fire exits were reportedly blocked or insufficient, and the venue lacked proper fire safety measures. Authorities have arrested several individuals in connection with the incident, including the club’s owner and municipal officials accused of oversight failures.
The tragedy shocked the nation and led to public protests over lax safety regulations and corruption in permit issuance. North Macedonia’s government has since pledged reforms to strengthen fire safety enforcement and public venue inspections.
