A serious fire broke out at a nightclub in Kochani, a southern town in North Macedonia, resulting in 59 deaths and 155 injuries. According to authorities, the fire occurred around 2:35 a.m. local time on Sunday, when a local popular band was holding a concert. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski briefed reporters on the situation, emphasizing the severity of the incident.
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03-19, 2025Officials stated that 39 of the victims have been identified so far, adding that 18 of the injured are in critical condition. The pre-dawn fire in the town of Kochani resulted in a large number of young people being injured or killed due to burns, smoke inhalation, and desperate attempts to flee the building's only exit. Officials indicated that some of the victims were as young as 16 years old, highlighting the tragedy's impact on the community.
Video from the scene showed fireworks on stage hitting the ceiling, followed by chaos inside the club, with young people moving through thick smoke while musicians urged them to escape as quickly as possible. Throughout Sunday, families of the victims gathered in front of hospitals and the municipal hall in Kochani, pleading with authorities for more information. Kochani is located approximately 115 kilometers east of the capital, Skopje.
Local resident Dragi Stojanov learned that his 21-year-old son, Tomche, had died in the fire. "He was my only child. I no longer need my life... 150 families have been broken," he said. "The children are burned beyond recognition. Inside (the club) are just bodies, only bodies," expressing the immense grief and devastation felt by the community.
Officials said that the injured have been sent to hospitals across the country, including the capital Skopje, with many suffering severe burns. Multiple volunteer organizations are assisting with rescue efforts. Preliminary investigations revealed that the club was operating without proper permits, leading to the detention of 15 people for questioning. Toshkovski stated that the number of people inside the club was at least twice its official capacity of 250, indicating a potential safety violation.
Health Minister Alben Taravari stated that 118 people have been hospitalized, adding that he had received offers of assistance from neighboring countries including Albania, Bulgaria, and Greece. "We have done everything we can, our best, to save the lives of the young people involved in this tragedy," Taravari said while facing reporters, his emotions clearly visible, emphasizing the government's commitment to helping those affected.
The tragedy is one of the worst disasters to strike the landlocked country of fewer than 2 million people in recent years. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited a hospital in Skopje to see burn patients and spoke with parents waiting outside the hospital. "It's terrible... it's hard to believe how this happened," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. "We must give these young people the courage to move forward," underscoring the need for resilience and support in the face of such loss.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated that this was "a difficult and sad day for Macedonia." "The loss of so many young lives is irreplaceable, and the pain of families, loved ones, and friends is immeasurable," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "The people and the government will do everything to at least slightly ease their pain and help them in these most difficult moments," conveying the nation's solidarity and commitment to support those affected.
Mickoski also stated that this was "the most difficult day of my life" and that the country must overcome corruption. "I entered politics to change something. I encountered a deeply entrenched system of corruption that has been built and nurtured for decades, including people from all parties, all levels. If this system does not collapse, this country will never exist," he said in a statement, highlighting the need for systemic change.
The government of North Macedonia has ordered a comprehensive inspection of all nightclubs and cabaret venues across the country in the next three days. Fireworks are often the cause of deadly nightclub fires, including the 2015 fire at the Colectiv club in Bucharest, Romania, which killed 64 people. The club where the incident occurred was located in an old building that previously served as a carpet warehouse, according to local media MKD, and had been operating for many years. The fire caused part of the roof of the single-story building to collapse, exposing charred wooden beams and debris.
Condolences have been sent from European leaders, as well as from the office of Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for bilateral pneumonia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas posted on X that she was "deeply saddened," adding that the EU's 27 nations "share the grief of the people of North Macedonia." North Macedonia is a candidate country for EU membership. Regional politicians such as Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy also expressed their condolences. "I wish the injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns with our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day," Zelenskyy wrote on X, expressing international solidarity.
