A devastating fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, has claimed the lives of at least 59 people and left more than 155 others injured, officials confirm.
The blaze broke out around 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) during a concert by DNK, a well-known hip-hop duo, in the town approximately 100 km (60 miles) east of the capital, Skopje. An estimated 1,500 people were in attendance when the fire erupted. Video shared on social media shows the building’s roof consumed by flames as panicked concertgoers scrambled to escape.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described the incident as a “difficult and very sad day” for the nation, mourning the loss of so many young lives.
Fire sparked by pyrotechnics
Interior Minister Pance Toskovski stated that initial investigations suggest the fire was ignited by sparks from pyrotechnic devices used during the performance. Speaking outside Kocani’s police station, he explained that the sparks had reached the ceiling, which was made of highly flammable material, causing the flames to spread rapidly.
Verified footage shows the band playing on stage as two flares ignite, sending sparks upward. Within moments, the fire engulfs the ceiling while the crowd, instead of immediately evacuating, watches as some attempt to put out the flames.
Chaos and desperate escapes
The scene quickly turned into chaos as people rushed to the exits. Marija Taseva, 20, described being caught in a crush as attendees pushed to escape. Speaking to Channel 5 TV, she recounted falling and being trampled before managing to get out. However, her family continues searching for her 25-year-old sister, who is unaccounted for and may have been transferred to Skopje for treatment.
Kocani’s hospital initially received 90 patients with severe burns. The health minister later confirmed that 18 remain in critical condition. Hospital director Kristina Serafimova told local media that identifying the injured had been difficult due to a lack of ID cards. She also revealed that the deceased victims ranged in age from 14 to 24.
Investigation underway
Authorities have arrested one individual in connection with the fire, though no further details have been disclosed.
In a statement, the prime minister assured the public that the government is “fully mobilized” to manage the aftermath and determine the exact causes of the disaster.
DNK, which formed in 2002, has been one of North Macedonia’s most popular hip-hop acts over the past decade. The tragedy has cast a shadow over the nation as investigations continue into one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the country’s history. Photo by Erin Silversmith, Wikimedia commons.