Nightclub fire in North Macedonia: 51 people were burnt to death in a massive fire at a nightclub in the European country North Macedonia in the early hours of Sunday (March 16). While about 100 others were injured in this horrific accident. According to media reports, this accident happened during a hip hop music concert organized in the city of Kocani, located about 100 kilometers east of the capital Skopje. The fire broke out in the city's nightclub when the music program of the famous hip-hop couple ADN was going on. 1,500 people had gathered in the club for this live concert.
A statement said that a fire broke out at 03:00 am on Sunday at the Pulse club in the North Macedonia town of Kocani, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of the capital Skopje. The nightclub remained engulfed in flames for hours. About 1,500 people are said to have attended the concert. The injured were taken to local hospitals in Kocani and Stip, about 30 kilometers south of the city.
According to local media reports, the fire at the nightclub was possibly started by fireworks. Video footage shows that sparks from the stage ignited the roof, causing the fire to spread rapidly. North Macedonia's interior minister told a press conference on Sunday that young people visiting the club used fireworks which set the roof on fire.
Online media outlet SDK reported that the fire broke out at around 3 am on Sunday. Citing rescue sources, they said that more than 100 people were injured. The report claimed that during the program someone started fireworks inside the nightclub. This caused the fire. There was chaos after the fire and some people were crushed and injured in the stampede.
In some videos viral on social media, the roof of the nightclub building is seen burning with fire. The viral video shows an atmosphere of chaos inside the nightclub. In the video, people are trying to escape amid the smoke. While the musicians are appealing to the audience to get out immediately.
"This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable. The pain of families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable," North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). According to officials, the injured have been admitted to various hospitals across the country. Police have arrested a man in the case. However, they have not given any details about his role.
