A devastating fire erupted early Sunday at a nightclub in Kocani, an eastern town in North Macedonia, claiming the lives of 59 people and injuring 155 others, authorities said. Thirty-nine of the deceased had been identified, and 20 of the injured were in critical condition.
Amid an outpouring of condolences and offers of help from neighboring countries, the disaster at Club Pulse has focused attention on corruption in the tiny Balkan nation. Authorities have detained 15 individuals as part of the investigation.
The Context
The fire is the deadliest tragedy in recent memory for North Macedonia, a nation of fewer than 2 million people.
The nightclub was housed in an old building that had previously functioned as a carpet warehouse. It had been operating for several years, but questions have now been raised regarding its licensing and safety measures. According to local media outlet MKD, the structure may not have been equipped to handle large crowds or indoor pyrotechnics.
What To Know
The blaze broke out around 2:35 a.m. local time during a live concert, with video footage showing pyrotechnics igniting the ceiling. Panic ensued as concertgoers, many of them teenagers and young adults, scrambled to escape through the club's only exit.
The fire caused the roof of the single-story building to partially collapse, exposing charred wooden beams and debris. Police cordoned off the site and deployed forensic teams alongside state prosecutors.
Officials said those injured were taken to hospitals across the country, including in the capital, Skopje, with many suffering severe burns. The response effort was supported by multiple volunteer organizations.
Health Minister Arben Taravari confirmed that 118 people had been hospitalized. Several neighboring countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey, have offered medical assistance, with critically injured patients being transported abroad for treatment. In Thessaloniki, Greece, three North Macedonian burn victims were being treated on Sunday, with one undergoing surgery. Additionally, paramedics from Serbia and Bulgaria traveled to North Macedonia to assist with local emergency efforts.
"All our capabilities have been put to use, in a maximum effort to save as many lives as possible of the young people involved in this tragedy," Taravari told reporters, at times appearing visibly shaken.
The band DNK was performing at the time of the fire, and some of the musicians were among the injured, the band's manager told ABC News.
The mayor of Strumica, Konstantin Kostantinov, told ABC News that the 24-year-old drummer for DNK is among those who died in the nightclub fire.
Desperate family members gathered outside hospitals and Kocani's city offices, pleading with authorities for updates on their loved ones.
Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said that 15 individuals had been detained for questioning after an initial inspection found the club was operating without a valid license. He also noted that the number of people inside was at least twice the official capacity of 250.
"We have grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption in this case," Toshkovski told reporters, without providing further details.
At a press conference later on Sunday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said, "Currently we have information that the facility where the accident occurred has a forged license, which was issued in March 2024, after bribery."
"The root cause of the number of accidents is corruption, improper implementation of laws and government negligence at all levels of power from central to local level, resulting in, among others, inadequate safety requirements, poor construction standards, and other infrastructure challenges," Zhidas Daskalovski, a political scientist with expertise in the region, told Newsweek. "Local elections are scheduled for the fall of 2025 and might be influenced by the tragic loss of life and potential political unrest."
State prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski highlighted numerous safety code violations at the club, including a lack of an overhead extinguisher system and fire alarms and the use of flammable materials to line the inside walls.
"It is incredibly upsetting that any nightclub would still allow people inside a venue lined with flammable insulation, let alone permit ignition sources like pyrotechnics to be used inside," said Guillermo Rein, a professor of fire science at Imperial College London.
North Macedonia is a landlocked country in the Balkans, bordered by Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, and Serbia, and condolences have poured in from political leaders across the region.
What People Are Saying
North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of the families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable … The people and the government will do everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate their pain and help them in these most difficult moments."
Dragi Stojanov, father of 21-year-old victim Tomce Stojanov, said: "It's my only child, and he died. What am I supposed to do? [The local officials] should be hurt in the same way I am hurt … They should all be punished and thrown down."
Survivor Marija Taseva, 19, said: "We even tried to get out through the toilet, to find bars [on the windows]. I somehow managed to get out. I fell down the stairs and they ran over me, trampled me … I barely stayed alive and could hardly breathe."
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: "My thoughts are with the victims and their families, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. Greece stands ready to assist in this difficult time."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "Tragic news … I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns alongside our Macedonian friends on this sad day."
Professor Zhidas Daskalovski told Newsweek over email: "The latest tragedy with the nightclub fire in Kocani will further traumatize the collective psyche of Macedonia."
Professor Guillermo Rein told Newsweek over email: "Lessons from past nightclub fires show that the deadly combination of flammable insulation, ignition sources, and crowds leads too often to tragic outcomes. Owners should know the risks, and the solutions exist. I firmly believe that flammable soundproofing insulation should be forbidden in all indoor public places, anywhere in the world."
What Happens Next
North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova said that steps needed to be taken to ensure "such tragedies never happen to us again."
The government has ordered safety inspections at all nightclubs in the country over the next three days, and declared seven days of national mourning.
This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.
Update 3/17/2025, 5:43 a.m. ET: This article was updated with more information.
Update, 3/16/2025, 6:15 a.m. ET: This article was updated with more information.
Update, 3/16/2025, 7:29 a.m. ET: This article was updated with more information.
Update, 3/16/2025, 10:12 a.m. ET: This article was updated with more information.
Update, 3/16/2025, 11:28 a.m. ET: This article was updated with more information and quotes from leaders.
Update, 3/16/2025, 12:08 p.m. ET: This article was updated with information about the band.
Update, 3/17/2025, 7:57 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and comment.
About the writer
Daniel Orton is an editor on the live news team at Newsweek, based in London, U.K. He was previously a ... Read more