A tragic fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia has claimed the lives of at least 59 people, leaving families and the community in deep sorrow. The incident occurred early Sunday morning at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, where a crowd had gathered to enjoy a performance by the local band DNK. Eyewitness accounts suggest that fireworks set off during the show ignited the venue’s roof, leading to chaos as patrons attempted to escape.
Among the victims was 21-year-old Tomce Stojanov, the only son of Dragi Stojanov. A heartbroken Dragi expressed his devastation, stating, “It’s my only child and he died. What is left for me in life?” He described his son as someone who had "only just started to live." The fire injured over 150 others, and many families are now left to grieve the loss of their loved ones.
Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed the death toll and noted that 39 of the deceased have been identified. Dragi Stojanov remained at the scene throughout the night, reporting that authorities were struggling to recover bodies from the nightclub. He described the scene as horrifying, with victims “burnt, beyond recognition.” He claimed there could be as many as 200 people still inside the building.
Survivors of the fire recounted their terrifying experiences. One woman, who suffered injuries to her ear and knee, spoke of her sister, who remains missing. She recalled the moment the fire broke out, saying, “Everyone started running for the exit. There were charred bodies.” The fear and confusion led to a stampede, causing injuries as people fought to escape.
In response to the tragedy, four arrest warrants have been issued, although details about those involved have not been disclosed. The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, called the day “difficult and very sad” for the nation, emphasizing the immeasurable pain felt by the victims’ families. He pledged that the government would do everything possible to support those affected.
The tragedy has drawn condolences from leaders around the world, including Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who expressed solidarity with the grieving families.
As rescue and forensic teams continue their work at the site, the community is left to mourn the loss of so many young lives in a single, devastating incident.