Videos circulating online captured the moment pyrotechnics on stage ignited the ceiling, triggering a deadly fire that tore through a packed nightclub in North Macedonia on Sunday. The fire, which erupted during a live concert, killed 59 people and left 155 injured as panicked revelers scrambled to escape the inferno.
The incident occurred at approximately 02:30 (01:30 GMT) at Pulse club in Kocani, situated 100km (60 miles) east of Skopje. An estimated 500 people were present for a performance by DNK, a well-known local hip-hop group, the BBC reported.
The minister confirmed that over 20 injured individuals and three casualties were under 18 years old. While initial reports suggested 1,500 attendees, officials have subsequently reduced this number.
Videos captured the moment pyrotechnics on stage struck the ceiling, sparking panic as thick smoke filled the nightclub. Young people were seen running for safety while musicians frantically urged them to escape.
The fire caused partial collapse of the single-storey structure’s roof, exposing burnt wooden beams and rubble. Law enforcement secured the area and deployed evidence collection teams, working alongside state prosecutors.
Deaths and injuries resulted from burns, smoke inhalation, and a rush towards the building’s sole exit point, according to officials.
According to the Associated Press, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed 15 detentions for questioning after initial investigations revealed the establishment’s operation without proper licensing. He noted the venue contained at least twice its authorised capacity of 250 people.
“We have grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption in this case,” he told the reporters without additional details. According to Toskovski’s preliminary findings, the fire ignited when pyrotechnic sparks contacted the highly combustible ceiling material.
Local media described the venue as an “improvised nightclub”, previously functioning as a carpet storage facility. The establishment was hosting a concert by DNK, a musical group established in 2002 that has dominated North Macedonian music charts throughout the past decade.
President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a Skopje hospital and spoke with waiting parents. “It’s terrible … hard to believe how this happened,” she said emotionally. “We must give these young people courage to continue.”
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described it as “the most difficult day of my life” on Sunday evening, emphasising the necessity to address corruption.
“I entered politics to change something. I encountered a deeply corrupt system that has been created and nurtured for decades, which includes people from all parties, from all profiles. If that system does not collapse, this country will never exist,” he said in a statement.
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