Multiple arrests have been made following a devastating fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia in which at least 59 people died
As reported by Reuters, more than 190 people were injured in the blaze during a concert at the Pulse club in Kocani in the early hours of 16 March 2025. Initial reports state that 1,500 people attended the concert, with 500 inside the venue when the fire started at around 3am. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski said that fire may have been caused by “pyrotechnic devices”.
“The sparks caught the ceiling, which was made of easily flammable material, after which the fire rapidly spread across the whole discotheque, creating thick smoke,” Toskovski said. Images taken of the venue in the aftermath show much of the corrugated roof destroyed.
BBC News reported that the venue “lacked sprinklers”, and according to Reuters, authorities said that the venue “lacked fire extinguishers and emergency exits and was made of flammable materials”.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said that the licence for the club had been “issued illegally”, with an investigation currently underway. North Macedonia’s Public Prosecutor, Ljupco Kocevski said: “At the moment, orders have been issued to collect evidence."
As reported by The Guardian, Kocevski said of the venue where the fire took place: “It did not have two exit doors, but only one single improvised metal door at the back of the building, which was locked and without a handle on the inside.
“There was no access for fire engines from either side in accordance with the fire safety regulations. The interior of the building was lined with plasterboard, but it was not fireproof.”
More than 20 suspects have since been detained, including government officials, police officers, and the manager of the club, as there are “grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption linked to the fire”.
Funerals for those who died, including the singer of the popular DNK band that had been performing, were held on 20 March. Seven days of national mourning were declared, with the government adding that it would set up inspections of nightclubs and similar venues to ensure they met safety regulations.
President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova said in a statement: "No business or activity can function without standards and rules… Let us not allow anyone to endanger the lives of innocent people again."