At least 59 people have died and around 155 others were injured after a fire tore through a nightclub in North Macedonia, with authorities blaming pyrotechnics for the blaze.
The incident occurred at the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kochani, east of the capital of Skopje, where hundreds had gathered to watch local music duo DNK perform.
According to CNN, reports revealed that artists were among those who lost their lives in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Dr. Kristina Serafimova, head of Kochani General Hospital, told state media outlet MIA that the victims were aged between 16 and 24. She said most of the fatalities occurred due to a crowd crush during the panic.
Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski, speaking at a press conference on Sunday, said the fire was caused by stage effects that rapidly escalated.
“The fire was caused by pyrotechnics used for lighting effects at the concert and activated the sprinklers,” he said. “Most likely, sparks caught a part of the ceiling that was made of flammable material, causing the fire to spread to the entire discotheque in a short period of time, creating thick smoke.”
Footage inside the nightclub shows pyrotechnic sparks shooting across the stage as the band played.
Among the survivors was 22-year-old Marija Taseva, who described the chaos to local television station Kanal 5. According to Reuters, “Everyone was trying to save themselves,” and she added that she had been separated from her sister in the stampede. “We can’t find her in any hospital,” she said.
The country’s health ministry said at least 152 injured victims were taken to hospitals across North Macedonia, with dozens treated for second-degree burns on their hands and faces. Vlatko Zahariev, head of Shtip’s hospital, confirmed the severity of the injuries, MIA reported.
Twenty-seven of the most seriously injured victims will be flown abroad for further treatment, the health ministry added.
Among the dead was 25-year-old footballer Andrej Lazarov, his club FC Shkupi announced in an Instagram post.
Authorities have detained the owner of the nightclub, while four others are being sought in connection with the disaster. Justice Minister Igor Filkov said all those involved will be held accountable.
The tragedy ranks among the worst nightclub fires in recent years. Similar disasters occurred in Romania in 2015, where 64 people died, and in Brazil in 2013, where more than 240 lives were lost; both incidents were also linked to pyrotechnics.
In response to Sunday’s fire, the North Macedonian government is expected to declare a week of national mourning.
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