A devastating inferno tore through a crowded nightclub in the North Macedonian town of Kocani early Sunday morning, claiming the lives of 59 people and injuring over 100 others after pyrotechnics ignited the venue’s ceiling during a live band performance.
Authorities have issued arrest warrants for four individuals linked to the tragedy, Interior Minister Pance Toskovski confirmed. The club’s owner has been taken into custody, according to state news agency Mia.
A video from the scene, verified by Reuters, captures the moment two flares lit up the stage, their white sparks setting the roof ablaze. Within moments, panic ensued as guests scrambled for the exits, desperately trying to escape the rapidly spreading flames.
"Everyone was fighting to survive," recounted 22-year-old survivor Marija Taseva to local TV 5. In the chaos, she was knocked to the ground and trampled, suffering a facial injury. Amid the turmoil, she lost sight of her sister, who remains missing. "We've searched everywhere, but we can’t find her in any hospital," she said.
Minister Toskovski confirmed that the blaze, which erupted around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT), was triggered by "pyrotechnic devices" used during the performance. Health Minister Arben Taravari reported that approximately 148 people were hospitalized across Kocani, Skopje, and nearby towns, with 18 in critical condition.
North Macedonia’s public broadcaster, MRT, detailed that 27 patients were admitted to Skopje City Hospital with severe burns, while another 23 were receiving treatment at the Clinical Center. Among the injured were minors. Some of the most critically wounded were airlifted to hospitals in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece for further care.
Families and friends frantically searched for missing loved ones throughout Sunday, scouring hospitals and posting online pleas. Simeon Sokolov, 50, found his daughter Anastasija in Skopje’s September 8 hospital, where she was being treated for burns and smoke inhalation. "So many children have been hurt," he told Reuters. "The doctors are doing their best, but the number of injured is overwhelming."
Public Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski stated that five prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the incident. "We are currently collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses," he said, without disclosing further details.
Throughout the night, firefighters battled the flames at the "Pulse" nightclub while ambulances raced from the scene. Television footage captured the charred remnants of the venue, its corrugated iron roof collapsed in sections, exposing blackened wooden beams.
North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expressed his sorrow on Facebook, calling it "a dark and tragic day for Macedonia." He lamented the loss of so many young lives, describing the pain felt by their families as immeasurable.
President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, visibly shaken and dressed in mourning black, visited the injured in Skopje’s hospitals. Fighting back tears, she vowed that authorities would do everything in their power to support those affected.
"I can barely find the words to describe this tragedy," she said. "It’s unfathomable… a heartbreaking disaster."