51 Dead, 100 Injured In Nightclub Fire
A catastrophic fire tore through the Pulse nightclub in the eastern town of Kocani, Macedonia, early Sunday, killing 51 people, according to authorities.
The fire which broke out at about 2:35 a.m. during a concert by a local pop group, left more than 100 persons injured, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski stated.
Authorities believe that fireworks ignited the roof and engulfed the venue. Videos from the scene showed panicked clubgoers fleeing through thick smoke.
Emergency responders rushed the injured to hospitals, with many victims suffering severe burns.
Health Minister Arben Taravari confirmed that 118 people were hospitalised and said that offers of assistance had come from neighbouring countries.
“All our resources are being used in a maximum effort to save as many lives as possible,” Taravari told reporters, visibly shaken.
The tragedy is said to be the deadliest in recent memory for North Macedonia. The country has less than 2 million population.
“This is a heartbreaking day for our country. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the grief of the families and friends is immeasurable,” Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski wrote on X.
“The government will do everything in its power to support the victims’ families in these difficult times,” he added.
Distressed family members gathered outside hospitals and city offices in Kocani, pleading for information about their loved ones.
The Pulse nightclub was housed in an old building that previously served as a carpet warehouse and had been operating for several years, according to local media outlet MKD.
Toshkovski stated that an investigation has been launched into the club’s safety standards and licensing, confirming that one person had been arrested, though he did not disclose details about the individual’s role in the incident.
51 Dead, 100 Injured In Nightclub Fire is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
