A devastating fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, has left at least 59 people dead and 155 others injured.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Sunday when sparks from pyrotechnic devices ignited the club’s highly flammable ceiling, turning the venue into a death trap. Survivors and families are now grappling with unimaginable grief, while authorities investigate the circumstances that led to the disaster.
Marija Taseva, a 19-year-old who was at the club with her sister, described the horror as the fire spread rapidly. “Everyone started screaming and shouting, ‘Get out, get out!’” she recalled. But with only one functional exit for around 500 people, panic erupted. She managed to escape, but her sister did not. “My sister died. I was saved, and she wasn’t,” she said.
The club, an illegally operated venue that had previously been a carpet warehouse, lacked proper safety measures, officials confirmed. North Macedonia’s Interior Minister Pance Toskovski stated that investigators suspect bribery and corruption may have played a role in allowing the nightclub to function without a license. Police have detained 15 individuals in connection with the fire.
The aftermath of the fire has been devastating. Dr. Kristina Serafimovska, head of Kocani Hospital, reported that most fatalities resulted from the stampede as people desperately tried to flee. “Seventy of the patients have burns and carbon monoxide poisoning,” she added. Plastic surgeon Vladislav Gruev, who has been treating survivors, described severe burn injuries covering large portions of their bodies.
Public prosecutor’s office spokesperson Biljana Arsovska revealed that inspections found serious safety violations, including deficiencies in fire-extinguishing systems and emergency lighting. Mustafa Saidov, a Red Cross volunteer, highlighted the heartbreaking loss of young lives, as many victims were teenagers or in their early twenties. “The situation is brutal, chaotic. The stories are very sad, and unfortunately, many young lives are lost,” he said.
The pain is especially unbearable for families who lost their loved ones. Dragi Stojanov, a grieving father, broke down in front of reporters. “I am a dead man. I lost everything. The whole of Europe should know,” he cried. “I had one child, and I lost him. What do I need this life for?”
North Macedonia’s President, Gordana
A devastating fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, has left at least 59 people dead and 155 others injured. The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Sunday when sparks from pyrotechnic devices ignited the club’s highly flammable ceiling, turning the venue into a death trap. Survivors and families are now grappling with unimaginable grief, while authorities investigate the circumstances that led to the disaster.
Marija Taseva, a 19-year-old who was at the club with her sister, described the horror as the fire spread rapidly. “Everyone started screaming and shouting, ‘Get out, get out!’” she recalled. But with only one functional exit for around 500 people, panic erupted. She managed to escape, but her sister did not. “My sister died. I was saved, and she wasn’t,” she said.
The club, an illegally operated venue that had previously been a carpet warehouse, lacked proper safety measures, officials confirmed. North Macedonia’s Interior Minister Pance Toskovski stated that investigators suspect bribery and corruption may have played a role in allowing the nightclub to function without a license. Police have detained 15 individuals in connection with the fire.
The aftermath of the fire has been devastating. Dr. Kristina Serafimovska, head of Kocani Hospital, reported that most fatalities resulted from the stampede as people desperately tried to flee. “Seventy of the patients have burns and carbon monoxide poisoning,” she added. Plastic surgeon Vladislav Gruev, who has been treating survivors, described severe burn injuries covering large portions of their bodies.
Public prosecutor’s office spokesperson Biljana Arsovska revealed that inspections found serious safety violations, including deficiencies in fire-extinguishing systems and emergency lighting. Mustafa Saidov, a Red Cross volunteer, highlighted the heartbreaking loss of young lives, as many victims were teenagers or in their early twenties. “The situation is brutal, chaotic. The stories are very sad, and unfortunately, many young lives are lost,” he said.
The pain is especially unbearable for families who lost their loved ones. Dragi Stojanov, a grieving father, broke down in front of reporters. “I am a dead man. I lost everything. The whole of Europe should know,” he cried. “I had one child, and I lost him. What do I need this life for?”
North Macedonia’s President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, has vowed that justice will be served. “None of the responsible should escape the law, justice, and punishment,” she stated, emphasizing the value of human life. The government has declared seven days of national mourning and is coordinating with neighboring countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey, to provide specialized treatment for the severely injured.
As the nation mourns, the tragedy has sparked outrage over safety regulations and corruption, leaving many demanding answers and accountability.Siljanovska-Davkova, has vowed that justice will be served. “None of the responsible should escape the law, justice, and punishment,” she stated, emphasizing the value of human life. The government has declared seven days of national mourning and is coordinating with neighboring countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey, to provide specialized treatment for the severely injured.
As the nation mourns, the tragedy has sparked outrage over safety regulations and corruption, leaving many demanding answers and accountability.
