Skopje: At least 51 people have lost their lives in a devastating fire that broke out at a nightclub in North Macedonia, officials have confirmed. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday at the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kocani, while a local pop band was performing.
According to Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski, the fire ignited at around 2:35 am. Local reports suggest that fireworks set off inside the venue caused the roof to catch fire, rapidly engulfing the club in flames. Footage from the scene shows pyrotechnics going off near the stage and shooting towards the ceiling just before the fire started.
Health Minister Arben Taravari stated that 118 people were hospitalized following the tragedy, with medical support also being offered by neighboring countries. Many of the injured are receiving treatment at Kocani General Hospital, where distressed families have gathered for updates. Severe burn victims have been transferred to hospitals in Skopje, with 27 being treated at Skopje City Hospital and another 23 at the Clinical Centre.
North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event, calling it "a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia." He assured that the government would do everything possible to support the victims' families.
Condolences poured in from international leaders, including US Ambassador to North Macedonia Angela Aggeler, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. President Zelenskyy shared his sympathies on social media, saying, "Ukraine mourns alongside our North Macedonian friends on this sad day."
