KOCANI, NORTH MACEDONIA – A catastrophic fire tore through the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, a town 100 km east of Skopje, in the early hours of Sunday morning, leaving more than 100 people injured and the death toll climbing past 51 in recent hours. The blaze, which erupted around 02:35 local time (01:35 GMT) during a performance by the popular hip-hop band ADN, has plunged the nation into mourning.
Social media footage captured the horrifying scene as flames engulfed the nightclub, with thick smoke billowing into the night sky and a wall of fire illuminating the terrified faces of onlookers. Reports indicate the fire may have been sparked by fireworks set off inside the venue, which once served as a carpet warehouse. According to Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski, the fireworks ignited the roof, causing the blaze to spread rapidly.
“There are corpses, just corpses inside. They can’t pull them out,” said Dragi Stojanov, a grieving father whose 21-year-old son, Tomce, perished in the fire. Speaking to reporters at the scene, he added, “It’s my only child and he died. What is left for me in life? I don’t need my life anymore. He only just started to live.”
As many as 1,500 people are believed to have been inside the club attending the concert when the fire broke out. While many were evacuated as the flames took hold, the scale of the tragedy has overwhelmed local authorities. The public prosecutor’s office released a statement on Sunday confirming that the exact number of victims and injured is still being determined.
Health Minister Arben Taravari reported that 118 people have been hospitalized, with 27 currently receiving treatment for severe burns at Skopje City Hospital and 23 others at the Clinical Centre. Neighboring countries have offered medical assistance to support the strained healthcare system. “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.
The wounded have also been transported to hospitals in Kocani and Stip, 20 miles south, as family members gather outside medical facilities and the city offices, pleading for updates on their loved ones. North Macedonia’s state news agency initially cited interior ministry sources estimating “at least 50” fatalities, though the toll has since risen.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who canceled a planned trip to Montenegro for a European People’s Party summit, addressed the nation on X: “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.”
Interior Minister Toshkovski confirmed that police have arrested one individual in connection with the fire, though no further details on the suspect’s involvement were provided. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full circumstances behind the disaster.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through North Macedonia, with the nation grappling with the loss of so many lives in what has become one of the deadliest incidents in its recent history.
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