At least 59 dead, 155 injured in North Macedonia nightclub fire.

Officials said that in the early hours of Sunday (March 16), a major fire broke out in a nightclub in the eastern town of Kocani, North Macedonia. The fire resulted in at least 59 fatalities and 155 injuries.

According to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski stated that the fire erupted at around 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday. At the time of the incident, a local pop band was performing at Club Pulse. The identities of 39 of the deceased have been confirmed.

Toshkovski indicated that preliminary assessments suggest the fire may have been caused by fireworks that ignited the roof of the building. Videos show chaos inside the nightclub, with young people running in the smoke as musicians urged them to evacuate quickly.

The Interior Minister also mentioned that arrest warrants have been issued for four individuals connected to the fire. The national news agency Mia reported that the nightclub owner has been detained by the police.

Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski stated that a team of five prosecutors will be investigating the incident. He added that orders to collect evidence have been issued, and some individuals are currently being questioned.

Officials informed that the injured have been taken to various hospitals across the country, including in the capital city of Skopje. Many of the individuals sustained severe burns, and several volunteer organizations have been assisting in the response efforts.

Health Minister Arben Taravari reported that 118 people are hospitalized, mentioning that assistance has been provided by neighboring countries such as Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia.

“We have mobilized all our capabilities to make every effort to save as many young lives as possible in this tragedy,” Taravari emphasized.

This incident represents one of the most severe tragedies in recent times for this landlocked country with a population of less than 2 million. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje and spoke with the relatives of those waiting outside the medical facility.

“It’s truly awful… It’s hard to believe this happened,” she said. “We must give these young people the courage to continue moving forward.”

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expressed on social media, “For North Macedonia, this is a difficult and very sad day. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of their families, loved ones, and friends is immeasurable.”

Following the incident, the authorities cordoned off the area and deployed an evidence collection team. Interior Ministry officials stated that they will investigate the venue’s permits and safety regulations, emphasizing the government’s moral obligation to prosecute those responsible. One man has been arrested after the tragedy, but details of his involvement have not been disclosed.