The fire broke out during a performance by the group DNA on Saturday night at the Pulse disco in the town of Kocani. A total of at least 1,500 people, mostly young, were in the premises. Of these, at least 60 have been found dead, while over 150 have been injured, according to Interior Minister Pance Toshkovski.
According to unconfirmed reports, the fire started when pyrotechnics ignited stage decorations and the ceiling during the concert. The concert was scheduled to start at midnight, and the fire is said to have broken out at around 2:30 am.
Attempted to extinguish
There are different reports on whether the fireworks were part of the show or set off by guests, but parts of the interior are described as highly flammable. On amateur videos posted on media sites, the club's staff can be seen rushing to put out the flames with powder extinguishers as the fire begins to lick the walls of the premises.
The owner of Pulse is reported to have been arrested. Toshkovski says that four people are being sought as suspects in connection with the incident, but it is not clear if the owner is included in that number.
Worst of its kind
Kocani is a small town in the eastern part of the country, and lacks the medical capacity to handle an accident of this magnitude.
Over 100 injured have been taken to hospitals in Stip, Kocani, and (the capital) Skopje, says Toshkovski.
Outside the hospitals, relatives and friends have gathered, waiting for news about the dead and injured. Social media is also filled with missing persons reports and questions from relatives.
The tragedy is described as possibly the worst of its kind in North Macedonia's history. Both Toshkovski and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announce that they will follow the rescue efforts and disaster investigation on site in Kocani.
The country is also receiving condolences from neighboring countries, which are offering medical assistance if needed. Even Pope Francis has sent his condolences in a statement following the fire.
The fire in North Macedonian Kocani is feared to have claimed the lives of around 60 people. Globally, such fire tragedies in music and club venues are not entirely uncommon. Some examples from recent decades:
2022, January, Cameroon: Pyrotechnics cause the ceiling of a club in the capital Yaoundé to catch fire. 17 people die.
2016, December, USA: 36 people die after a fire breaks out during a party in a warehouse.
2013, January, Brazil: A student party quickly turns deadly when sound insulation material catches fire and releases toxic gas. More than 200 people die.
2000, December, China: A welding accident leads to a fire at a disco that claims 309 lives.
1998, October, Sweden: A fire breaks out at the Macedonian Association's premises at Backaplan in Gothenburg, where young people had organized a disco. Around 400 people are in the premises, intended for a maximum of 150 people. 63 young people between 12 and 20 years old die. Four people are later convicted of arson.
