North Macedonia nightclub fire leaves dozens dead

A fire on Sunday overwhelmed patrons of a crowded nightclub in the small Balkan country’s eastern town of Kocani, killing 59 people and injuring 155, according to Nova Makedonija, a North Macedonia media outlet. Pyrotechnics inside Club Pulse caught the building’s ceiling on fire during a live concert, partially collapsing the roof. The dead and injured were mostly young people who suffered from burns, smoke inhalation, and trampling in the rush to evacuate.

The club reportedly had only one locked emergency exit door, no sprinkler system, and was lined with flammable materials. At the time of the disaster, about 500 people, including minors, were inside the small building. People living near the club reportedly broke down doors and windows to help patrons escape.

How are the victims being treated? About 20 people in critical condition are receiving care in neighboring Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Turkey, and Croatia, according to the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. Local burn units could only treat four to five people, North Macedonia’s Media Information Network reported.

How did the government respond? Police and government officials have already issued detainment orders for several people, including concert organizers and club managers. The club’s license was likely falsified and officials are investigating possible bribery, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said. The government will also decide on Tuesday whether to cover travel costs for the families of those hospitalized abroad.