A devastating fire tore through the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, early Sunday morning, leaving 59 dead and 155 injured. The blaze erupted around 2:35 a.m. during a concert, reportedly ignited by pyrotechnics that set the roof ablaze.
Videos from inside the club captured frantic scenes as young concertgoers scrambled to escape the smoke-filled venue. Authorities confirmed that many of the injured suffered severe burns and were transported to hospitals across the country, including in the capital, Skopje. Neighboring nations such as Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia have offered medical assistance.
Heartbroken families gathered outside hospitals, desperate for news of their loved ones. Among them was Dragi Stojanov, who lost his only son, 21-year-old Tomce. “He was my everything. I have nothing left,” he lamented.
Officials described this as one of the worst disasters in North Macedonia’s history. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited victims in the hospital, struggling to hold back emotion as she spoke of the unimaginable loss. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski called it a “difficult and tragic day” for the nation.
Investigators are now examining the club’s safety measures and licensing. The nightclub, housed in a former carpet warehouse, had been operating for years, but the fire caused part of the roof to collapse, exposing charred debris. Authorities have arrested one individual and are questioning several others.
As the country reels from the tragedy, condolences have poured in from around Europe. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed deep sorrow, reaffirming the bloc’s solidarity with North Macedonia, which is seeking EU membership.
The government has vowed to hold those responsible accountable, as the grieving nation begins to process the scale of its loss.
