Dressed in black, with tears in their eyes and photographs of their loved ones in hand, families, relatives, and citizens marched through the streets of Kočani on Friday to honor the victims of the March 16 tragedy, when a fire engulfed the “Puls” nightclub.
The protest, titled “March for the Angels,” began at 12:05 PM from the Park of the Revolution—a symbolic time, which, according to organizers, represents the delayed institutional response to the incident. The march proceeded toward the city’s main shopping center, then to the Kočani Municipality building, the Police Station, the Basic Court, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
A growing number of residents joined the grieving families along the way, as the city remained shrouded in silence and sorrow—an atmosphere that has persisted for more than twenty days, according to locals.
“We will not stop until the full truth is uncovered and justice is served,” said several parents of the victims. They are demanding an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation that will lead to accountability for the lives lost.
Organizers emphasized that the march is not directed against the nightclub’s security staff, but rather serves as an act of remembrance for the deceased and a collective call for justice. Those who do not share this purpose, they stated, are not expected to participate.
Another protest, under the slogan “Your Profit – Our Lives,” was announced for 3:59 PM with a similar route. The organizers of that event have not been publicly identified.
The families of the victims have vowed to continue with peaceful protests until they receive the answers they seek and full institutional accountability is ensured for the tragedy that has shaken their city.
On the night of March 16, 2025, a devastating fire broke out inside the “Puls” nightclub in Kočani, a city in eastern North Macedonia. The fire reportedly started during a busy weekend night while dozens of young people were inside. Several lives were lost, with victims primarily in their teens and twenties, and many others were injured.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but early reports suggest issues with emergency exits and possible negligence in fire safety measures. Public outrage has grown in the weeks following the incident, with criticism directed at both the venue’s management and state institutions for their slow response.
The tragedy has sparked a wave of grief and calls for reform across the country, with citizens demanding better safety regulations, quicker emergency responses, and justice for the victims and their families.
