In brief
The recent nightclub fire in Kocani has sparked outrage, as survivors recount chaotic scenes and local officials face growing suspicions of corruption.
On a tragic night in Kocani, North Macedonia, Marija Taseva was out with her sister at the Pulse club when the unthinkable happened. The popular venue was hosting a concert by DNK, a local hip-hop duo, when a fire erupted, claiming at least 59 lives and injuring over 155 others. Taseva, only 19, described the terrifying moment when chaos unfolded. “Everyone started screaming and shouting 'get out, get out!'” she recounted. Panic ensued as the crowd of around 500 people attempted to flee through a single exit, while another door was locked. “I don’t know how but I ended up on the ground, I couldn’t get up and at that moment people started stomping on me,” she added. Despite her desperate struggle for survival, Taseva lost her sister in the tragedy.As the investigation into the fire unfolds, local authorities have taken action, detaining 15 individuals, including the club's owner and former government officials. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski highlighted potential bribery and corruption as pivotal issues tied to the disaster, promising there would be "no mercy" in pursuit of accountability, irrespective of political ties.According to reports, the fire ignited around 02:30 local time when sparks from pyrotechnics ignited the ceiling made of highly flammable materials. The nightclub, an improvised venue operating without a legal license, previously served as a carpet warehouse. The head of the local hospital reported that the majority of casualties resulted from the ensuing stampede, while around 70 victims suffered burns or carbon monoxide poisoning.Public prosecutor's spokesman Biljana Arsovska indicated that the venue exhibited significant safety deficiencies in its fire protection measures. Red Cross volunteer Mustafa Saidov expressed deep sorrow over the young age of most victims, revealing that parents are similarly grieving for their lost children. “The situation is brutal, chaotic, the stories are very sad, and unfortunately many young lives are lost,” Saidov lamented.Individuals affected by the fire have been vocal in their grief and outrage. Dragi Stojanov, who lost his only child, declared his despair to reporters, saying, "Let me tell you in front of everybody. Film me. I am a dead man, I lost everything… the whole of Europe should know.” North Macedonia’s President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, has called for those responsible for the tragedy to face justice, emphasizing that “nothing is worthier than human life, specifically young life.”In response to this national tragedy, the government has declared a week of mourning and plans to hold an emergency session as investigations continue into the incident that has left a community shattered and searching for answers.
