A catastrophic fire broke out in an overcrowded nightclub in North Macedonia’s town of Kocani early on Sunday morning, claiming the lives of 59 individuals and leaving 155 injured amid a frantic attempt to escape during a live music performance. The devastating incident has shifted attention nationwide towards corruption issues within the small Balkan nation, prompting the arrest of 15 individuals.
The number of casualties is feared to rise, with 20 of the injured reported to be in a critical state, as per Health Minister Arben Taravari. In response to this tragedy, the government has declared a seven-day national mourning.
The blaze occurred in the pre-dawn hours and predominantly affected young people, resulting in fatalities and injuries due to burns, smoke inhalation, and a chaotic stampede as individuals rushed for the club’s sole exit. Victims included individuals as young as 16.
Footage captured at the scene displayed pyrotechnics on stage igniting the ceiling, causing widespread panic as attendees attempted to evacuate while musicians urged haste. Marija Taseva, 19, recounted the horrific experience, saying, “We even tried to get out through the toilet to find bars on the windows.” Despite being injured in the chaos, she barely managed to escape and could hardly breathe.
The incident represents the worst tragedy in recent history for the nation, home to fewer than 2 million people, and joins a tragic list of similar nightclub fires globally. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski indicated that an initial investigation uncovered the club’s operation without a proper license and a significantly over-capacity crowd.
Expressions of sympathy and support flowed in from European leaders and Pope Francis, who expressed condolences despite his current hospitalization. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also offered solidarity, stating, “Ukraine mourns alongside our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day.”
The Health Ministry confirmed North Macedonia’s acceptance of aid for critically injured patients from neighboring countries including Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey. In Greece’s Thessaloniki, three individuals suffering severe burns were being treated, with one undergoing surgery.
Throughout the day, distraught relatives gathered outside hospitals and municipal buildings in Kocani, desperate for news about their loved ones. Among them was Dragi Stojanov, who learned that his 21-year-old son, Tomce, perished in the inferno. “He was my only child. I don’t need my life anymore,” he lamented.
Visiting hospitals to support burn victims and their families, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova conveyed emotional words of encouragement, emphasizing the need to foster resilience among the survivors. “It’s terrible … hard to believe how this happened,” she remarked.
The deadly fire caused part of the nightclub’s roof to collapse, exposing the severely damaged interior. The site remains secured by police as evidence collection teams continue their operation in collaboration with state prosecutors. Following the disaster, North Macedonia’s government has mandated immediate inspections of all nightclubs and cabarets nationwide.
This tragic event follows a similar pattern of nightclub fires caused by pyrotechnics, reminiscent of the deadly fire at Romania’s Colectiv Club in 2015.
