Fifteen Detained After North Macedonia Nightclub Fire

A fire broke out at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, early Sunday morning, killing at least 59 people.

The blaze started around 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) during a concert by the popular hip-hop duo DNK. Around 500 people were inside the club when the fire started.

Authorities confirmed that one member of DNK survived and is being treated in the hospital. A total of 155 people were injured in the incident, including many young concertgoers.

Illegal Venue and Safety Violations

Officials stated that the nightclub was operating without a legal license. The venue was previously a carpet warehouse and had been converted into an “improvised nightclub.” Local reports indicate that the club had serious safety violations, including a lack of proper fire exits.

According to Biljana Arsovska, a spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office, there was only one usable exit. The back door was locked, preventing people from escaping. Inspections revealed multiple fire safety issues, including a poor fire-extinguishing system and inadequate emergency lighting.

Fire Caused by Pyrotechnics

Interior Minister Pance Toskovski said the fire started when sparks from stage pyrotechnics ignited the ceiling, which was made of highly flammable material. Video footage shows the band performing when two flares went off, sparking a fire that quickly spread across the ceiling.

Some concertgoers initially tried to put out the fire before realizing the danger. Panic set in when people rushed toward the single exit, causing a stampede.

Eyewitness Accounts

Marija Taseva, 20, described the chaos as she tried to escape for Channel 5 TV.

“I don’t know how, but somehow I managed to get out,” she told the Reuters news agency. “I’m fine now, but there are many dead,” she told reporters. Her 25-year-old sister did not survive.

Most victims were between 18 and 20 years old, with over 20 injured individuals and three fatalities being under 18, according to the Red Cross.

Investigations and National Mourning

Fifteen people have been detained for questioning, with authorities suspecting corruption and bribery linked to the nightclub’s operations.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski called it “a difficult and very sad day” for the country. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova expressed her grief, stating, “Your immense pain is mine too.”

“No business or activity can function without standards and rules,” she wrote in a statement. “Let us not allow anyone to endanger the lives of innocent people again.”

The government has declared seven days of national mourning. Investigations are ongoing, and severely injured patients have been sent to hospitals in Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey.

European leaders have expressed condolences, with EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen stating that the EU stands in solidarity with North Macedonia during this tragedy.