The fire broke out at a nightclub in North Macedonia Early on Sunday, killing 51 people and injuring more than 100 others, the authorities said.
Pyrotechnic devices caused a fire Around 2:35 in the morning during the concert of the local pop group at the Pulse Night Club in Kocani, the Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski told reporters.
“The sparks caused a fire … And the fire spread through the disco,” he said, according to Reuters.
The injured were transported to hospitals across the country. Many injured suffered severe burns, the officials said.
The firefighter examines the nightclub after a mass fire in the town of Kocani, Northern Macedonia, Sunday. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Minister of Health Arben Taravari said 118 people were hospitalized.
“All our capabilities have been used, in the maximum effort to save as many lives of young people involved in this tragedy,” Taravar told reporters, adding that the neighboring countries of Albania, Bulgaria and Greece offered assistance.
The fire was caused by the roof of a one -storey nightclub partially crashed. (Reuters/Ognen Theophilian)
The club was in the old building that was previously a carpet warehouse and has been working for several years, according to local media media.
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The flames removed a one -storey building and caused the roof to be partially demolished. Police cordonated from the area as teams were collecting evidence from the building.
Emergency respondents gather outside the nightclub after a deadly fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. (Reuters/Ognen Theophilian)
“This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of family, loved ones and friends is immense,” Prime Minister Hristian Mickoski wrote on X.
“People and the Government will do everything in their power to at least relieve their pain and help them in those most difficult moments,” he continued.
Toshkovski said that the authorities would investigate the provisions on the licensing and security of the place, adding that the Government had “moral responsibility” to help process anyone responsible. Police have arrested one man Already, but he did not give details about the participation of the person.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
