A devastating fire at the crowded nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, has killed at least 59 people and injured over 150, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed.
The blaze broke out around 3am local time (02:00 GMT) on Sunday during a concert by the band DNK at the Pulse club.
Videos posted online showed “stage fountains” being set off before sparks ignited the nightclub’s highly flammable ceiling, rapidly spreading fire and thick smoke. Disturbing footage captured the building engulfed in flames.
Authorities have issued arrest warrants for four individuals, and 20 people, including a Ministry of Economy employee, have been detained. Officials revealed that the nightclub had been operating with a falsified licence.
Many victims were rushed to hospitals in Kocani and Skopje. The hospital director, Kristina Serafimova, said most of the injured were aged between 14 and 24.
Among the deceased were three DNK band members, a backup vocalist, and a photographer. Some victims remain unidentified.
The government is expected to declare a seven-day mourning period and conduct emergency inspections of nightclubs. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski called the tragedy an “immeasurable loss.”
Condolences have poured in from across Europe, including from Pope Francis and European Council President Antonio Costa.
