KOCHANI – Authorities in North Macedonia are calling for calm as student groups are planning new protests on Tuesday after a devastating nightclub fire killed 59 people and left over 150 injured during the weekend.
The tragedy took place in the early hours of Sunday at Club Pulse in the town of Kocani in the east, following the use of pyrotechnics during a concert, causing an outcry about alleged corruption and safety negligence. Demonstrations occurred on Monday in Kocani and the capital, Skopje, with some turning violent – protestors in Kocani flipped a van and threw rocks at a municipal building. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski urged for reason, stating in an interview with Sitel television on Monday evening, “We must call once again for reason. We must allow the prosecuting authorities to do their job so that in the end we can finally normalize the state.”
Investigations have revealed that the club was operating at double its capacity, hosting more than the allowed 250 persons without the necessary licenses. Authorities reported numerous safety breaches, which included no emergency exits, insufficient fire safety equipment, flammable cladding, and the absence of a sprinkler system. Many victims were crushed as panicking attendees rushed towards the single exit.
Neighboring Serbia and Bulgaria, which immediately offered assistance following the tragedy, are observing a day of national mourning Tuesday in solidarity with North Macedonia.
Medical specialists from the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Israel have arrived to support treatment efforts for the injured, Health Ministry official said. And the European Union is helping transport burn victims to nearby countries.
Around 50 patients are being treated in mostly neighboring and nearby countries, the majority of them with serious burns. The disaster has intensified scrutiny of corruption in North Macedonia, which the EU has previously identified as a major obstacle to the country’s accession to the bloc. Authorities are investigating allegations that club owners bribed officials to bypass safety regulations.
The government has ordered nationwide inspections of all nightclubs and other entertainment venues.
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Testorides reported from Skopje, North Macedonia
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