At Least 59 Dead After Fire at North Macedonian Nightclub During Concert with Over 500 Attendees
A devastating fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia has left at least 59 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to the country’s interior minister. The fire broke out early on Sunday morning at the Pulse Club in Kocani, a village located about 100 kilometers east of the capital, Skopje.
More than 500 people had gathered at the club for a concert by the hip-hop group DNK when the blaze began. Emergency responders, including firefighters from nearby towns, rushed to the scene to help.
The fire is believed to have started around 3 a.m. local time, just a few hours after the concert began at midnight. Videos shared on social media show thick smoke billowing into the air as flames quickly consumed the nightclub. Inside footage reveals two stage jets, commonly used in concerts to create special effects, which may have played a role in the disaster.
According to Interior Minister Pance Toskovski, sparks from the stage jets likely ignited the ceiling, which was made of highly flammable material. He explained, “At the moment of activating the so-called sprinklers, the sparks caught the ceiling that was made of easily flammable material, and in a very short period of time, the fire spread across the whole discotheque, creating thick smoke.”
In distressing footage confirmed by the BBC, the crowd can be seen attempting to flee the building, with some people trying to extinguish the flames that had ignited the ceiling. Witnesses described a “stampede,” with many people crushed to death in the chaos, according to Skopje-based radio station Lider.
Toskovski stated, “According to the data we have by now, 51 people lost their lives, and more than 100 are injured.” The death toll later rose to 59.
Some of the injured were flown to hospitals in the capital, Skopje, while others were treated at local hospitals in Kocani and nearby Stip, about 30 kilometers to the south. According to Kristina Serafimova, director of Kocani Hospital, 30 patients were receiving treatment at the facility, while another 60 were being transferred to other medical centers.
On Sunday, Lider shared a video showing the burned-out remnants of the nightclub, including a massive hole in the ceiling. Additional footage from local media outlets displayed the charred remains of the club’s entrance.
North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing the day as “difficult and very sad.” He urged solidarity with the victims’ families and assured the public that the government would investigate the cause of the fire.
Mickoski posted on Facebook: “With deep sorrow I received the news of the terrible tragedy in Kochani. This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of families, loved ones, and friends is immeasurable. In these moments of deep sorrow, our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery, and to the families of the deceased—strength to bear this unimaginable loss.”
The Prime Minister promised that both the people and the government would do everything possible to provide support to the victims and their families during this tragic time.
The Ministry of the Interior has stated that anyone involved in the performance, including the performers themselves, is being questioned as part of the investigation.
The UK ambassador to North Macedonia, Matthew Lawson, expressed his condolences on social media, writing: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire in Kochani that claimed the lives of 51 people, many of whom were young. Our hearts go out to the families and friends affected by this immense loss. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.”
Similarly, the US ambassador to North Macedonia, Angela Aggeler, also posted on social media: “My heart breaks this morning for the many victims in last night’s fire at a nightclub in Kochani. Our deepest condolences go to the victims and their loved ones at this awful time, and wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured. The loss of so many young lives in one community is a terrible tragedy. I have offered any assistance and the full resources of the U.S. Embassy to the Prime Minister, as well as our prayers for all those who suffer today.”
This tragic incident follows another deadly fire in North Macedonia in September 2021, when a fire in a Covid-19 patient unit in Tetovo claimed the lives of 14 people.
UPDATE: The number of casualties has increased to 59.