Fire breaks out in a nightclub in North Macedonia, 59 people killed

A massive fire broke out in a nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia after fireworks inside the club caught the roof on fire, destroying the entire club and killing 59 and injuring 155 people as a result.

On the 16th of March, a heartbreaking tragedy struck the city of Kocani in North Macedonia as a fire destroyed a whole nightclub, taking the lives of 59 people and injuring 155 people in the process. This occurrence shocked the whole world as all eyes are now on North Macedonia as this event isn’t only an unfortunate tragedy, but also an act of corruption. The club reportedly worked without a valid license. As of today, 15 different people have been arrested, including the owner of the club. As for the victims, people as young as 15 were killed or injured in the fire.

The cause of the fire was the sparkling fireworks that were a part of the club’s production. The sparkles hit the ceiling which consisted of easily-flammable materials and fire quickly started spreading. All hell broke loose as the attendees all started running to safety, causing stampedes in the process. Many were trampled and left unconscious. One of the attendees, Marija Taseva, spoke to The Associated Press, describing the terrible situation:

“We even tried to get out through the toilet, to find bars. I somehow managed to get out. I fell down the stairs and they ran over me and trampled me. I barely stayed alive and could hardly breathe.”

According to the interior minister Panche Toshovski, the number of people inside the club was double the official capacity of 250.

The government of North Macedonia accepted offers of assistance from several countries, including Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Moreover, paramedics from Serbia and Bulgaria traveled to North Macedonia to offer their expert help. Relatives of the victims are continuously begging the authorities to provide more information. North Macedonia has declared national mourning for the victims.