The interior minister told a press conference that a large fire that started in a nightclub in the eastern town of Kočani, North Macedonia, has killed 51 people and injured roughly 100 more.
According to the minister, Panche Toshkovski, the fire started at approximately 2.35 a.m. on Sunday morning while a local pop group was performing. He claimed that the roof caught fire as a result of the young clubgoers’ use of pyrotechnics. As the musicians urged everyone to leave as soon as possible, videos showed chaos inside the club, with young people running through the smoke.
“This is a challenging and very sad day for Macedonia,” wrote Hristijan Mickoski, the prime minister of North Macedonia, on X. The pain felt by the families, friends, and loved ones is indescribable, and the loss of so many young lives is irreversible.
“The government and the people will exert every effort to help them during these most trying times and to at least somewhat lessen their suffering.”
Families gathered in front of Kočani’s city offices and hospitals, pleading with officials for more details.
Toshkovski stated that one man had been taken into custody by the police, but he did not elaborate on his role.
The state news agency MIA, citing the interior ministry, stated that DNK, a well-known hip-hop duo in the nation, was performing at the Pulse nightclub, with approximately 1,500 people in attendance.
Approximately 30,000 people live in the small town of Kočani, which is located 60 miles (100 km) east of Skopje, the capital.
The injured were transported to Štip, which is roughly 20 miles south, or to the nearby hospital in Kočani.
