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The fire at the "Pulse" nightclub in Kočani, North Macedonia, turned into a huge tragedy on Sunday, with at least 59 victims. Initial investigations speak of very serious irregularities in the security systems and the license of the club. The country is in mourning
A fire in a disco club in the city of Kocani that broke out between Saturday and Sunday at around 2:30 a.m. killed 59 people and injured 155. This is definitely the biggest tragedy since the formation of the state first as a federal unit in Yugoslavia in 1944 and then an independent state in 1991. National televisions covered the event all day, and representatives of the police and prosecutor's office held press conferences from early morning until late in the evening.
A large number of media outlets published news and videos showing that the cause of the fire was the use of pyrotechnics during a performance by hip-hop duo "DNA" at the Pulse disco. A 20-year-old witness, in a statement to local media, pointed out that sprinklers were on stage and the styrofoam on the ceiling caught fire. "I heard an explosion and the roof collapsed. Then we all rushed to get out, we all ran towards one door, it was both for entry and exit", the witness told local media. Public prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski, in his first statement to the media, said that pyrotechnics most likely caused the fire in the disco in Kocani, but stressed that this will be determined after the inspection.
Authorities reported that out of the 59 dead, from 14 to 45 years, three (3) were minors. Most of the victims are from Kocani and other cities in the eastern part of the country. Out of the 155 injured, 47 people were taken to hospitals in Sofia, Thessaloniki, Niš, Belgrade and Istanbul due to serious injuries and burns.
In Skopje, the Burn Centre at the St. Naum Ohridski Surgical Clinic, or the former City Hospital, has not been operating for more than two years, as the hospital's reconstruction that began in 2016 remained unfinished, local media reported.
This centre was the only place in the country where patients with severe burns were treated in appropriate conditions. It has a separate entrance, so that these patients do not mix with others and can be treated in sterile conditions.
According to media reports, there were about 500 people in the disco. Among the dead were Andrej Gjorgievski, one of the duo DNK, as well as seven people from their backing band: pianist Filip Stevkovski, guitarist Andrej Kolarov, drummer Gjorgi Gjorgiev, backing vocalist Sara Projkovska, drummer Igor Velkov and beatboxer Martin Atanasovski – Buco. Footballer Andrej Lazarov also died. A police officer who was deployed to check catering facilities for drug use and sale and for minors also lost his life.
The director of the Kocani hospital, Kristina Serafimova, who was among the first officials to give a statement to the Macedonian media, said that they received the first call at 2:48 a.m..
"In Kochani, 20 patients with minor injuries were admitted, and all the others were transferred to clinics in the country. Some of the deceased had ID cards, while others did not", said Serafimova.
The Minister of Interior, Pance Toshkovski, informed that he had summoned over 20 people for an informative interview with the police. Kreshnik Bekteshi, Minister of Economy in the former government, was also summoned for an interview.
"A former State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, a head of a sector in this Ministry, a former director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DZS) as well as three employees have been detained", said Toshkovski, pointing out that the disco operated with a forged license issued at a time when Bekteshi from DUI was Minister of Economy.
State Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski informed on Sunday at 8 p.m. that evidence had been provided for possible criminal liability for 10 people for whom detention had been ordered, and he assessed that there was evidence for several types of crimes.
"The facility did not have a hydrant network, nor a hydrant in use. It did not have a sufficient number of fire extinguishers, namely only two. It did not have two doors for evacuation, but only one improvised door, which was locked with a padlock, and there was no key from the inside. Additionally, the door was closed with insulating material”, said the prosecutor.
According to Kocevski, pyrotechnic materials were used illegally and without the necessary permits. He added that a state inspector for construction and urbanism was also present, who determined that the facility in which the accident occurred is still registered as a facility for light industry, and has not been converted into a catering facility, and yet has a permit to operate from the Ministry of Economy 15 years ago.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said that it is a difficult and very sad day, and the loss of so many young lives is irreparable. He announced a fight against the corrupt system: “This is the battle of the honest against the dishonest. I am saying this for all honest people in Macedonia who sincerely want the country to have law and order. This is a fight against a monster that is devouring the future of the country and taking away our loved ones”, said Mickoski.
No state of emergency will be declared and no foreign expertise will be requested.
Justice Minister Igor Filkov promised accountability for all those involved in this tragedy.
Due to the enormous tragedy that occurred in Kocani, the opposition party Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) postponed the internal party elections for the President of the party.
“In moments like these, the only thing that matters is solidarity and support. As a doctor, I am available for any kind of help I can give in this difficult situation. Now is not the time for divisions, but for unity in grief and in efforts to help”, reads the announcement by current President Filipce.
The media report that many high-ranking representatives of the EU institutions and neighbouring countries expressed regret and sent messages of condolences for the tragedy in Kocani.
“My heart is broken by the loss of so many young people in the terrible fire in Kocani. My thoughts are with all the families of the victims of this tragedy”, said President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, in a post on X.
The government declared 7 days of mourning throughout the country. The State Market Inspectorate is responsible for carrying out extraordinary inspections of catering facilities (cabarets, nightclubs, discos and open-air discos) throughout the country over the next three days.
The city of Kocani is in the eastern part of the country, 60 kilometres from the border with Bulgaria. According to the 2021 census, the Municipality of Kocani, a city and 13 small villages have a total of 31,602 inhabitants.
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