Marija Taseva was enjoying a night out at the Pulse club in Kocani, North Macedonia, with her sister when disaster struck. While watching the popular hip-hop duo DNK, a fire broke out, resulting in at least 59 fatalities and injuring 155 others.
“Everyone started screaming and shouting, ‘get out, get out!'” the 19-year-old recounted to Reuters. With only one exit available for around 500 patrons, chaos ensued as people desperately attempted to escape the flames. “I don’t know how, but I ended up on the ground and couldn’t get up, while people began stomping on me,” Ms. Taseva said. Although she managed to escape, her sister did not survive. “My sister died. I was saved, and she wasn’t.”
Authorities have detained 15 individuals in connection with the incident. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski indicated there are “grounds for suspicion of bribery and corruption” related to the fire. The blaze ignited around 2:30 AM local time when sparks from pyrotechnics struck the highly flammable ceiling.
The venue, described as an “improvised nightclub” by local media, lacked a legal license to operate, having previously served as a carpet warehouse. Police are currently investigating the site’s compliance with safety regulations.
Kristina Serafimovska, the head of Kocani hospital, noted that most victims suffered injuries from the stampede as patrons fled. “Seventy patients sustained burns and carbon monoxide poisoning,” she stated.
Dr. Vladislav Gruev from the University Clinic for Surgical Diseases reported that many survivors were treated for severe burn injuries covering over 18% of their body.
Public prosecutor’s office spokesperson Biljana Arsovska highlighted several “abnormalities” in the club’s safety systems, including deficiencies in fire extinguishing and lighting.
Red Cross volunteer Mustafa Saidov shared the emotional toll, stating that many young lives were lost, and noted the tragic circumstances of parents losing their children.
Dragi Stojanov, who lost his only child in the fire, lamented, “I am a dead man; I lost everything… After this tragedy, what do I need this life for? I had one child and I lost him.”
North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova emphasized the need for accountability, stating that those responsible must face justice.
The government has declared seven days of national mourning and plans to hold an emergency session to continue investigating the incident. In the aftermath, the most critically injured victims are being sent to specialized clinics in Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey for treatment.
Credit: BBC News
