At least 50 people were killed in a nightclub fire in North Macedonia in the early hours of Sunday, according to the state news agency citing the interior ministry, Reuters reported.
The fire broke out in North Macedonia’s southern town of Kocani, killing 51 people and injuring over a 100 more, according to a report by the Associated Press quoting interior minister Panche Toshkovski told a press conference.
The blaze erupted around 2:35 a.m. during a concert by a local pop group, the interior minister said.
An AFP report said around 1,500 people attended the concert where the incident took place.
“According to the data we have by now, 51 persons lost their lives, and more than 100 persons are injured and transported in the hospitals in Stip, Kocani and Skopje,” he was quoted as saying as AFP after his visit to the site in Kocani.
Toshkovski revealed that the young clubgoers used pyrotechnics that caused the roof to catch fire, as per the AP report.
He added that police have arrested one man, but didn’t provide details on the person’s involvement.
Family members have gathered in front of hospitals and Kocani’s city offices begging authorities for more information, as per AP.
Social media videos capture chaos
Videos circulating on social media have captured the horror and chaos on site.
“The fire remained active hours after ignition, with authorities yet to release official casualty figures,” an X account named The Risk Intelligence Group reported.
Take a look at the video below:
Another video showed the inside of the nightclub.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
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