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Al Arabiya
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Deadly nightclub blaze leaves North Macedonia in grief and desperate for accountability
North Macedonia is grappling with the loss of dozens of young lives in a nightclub inferno while trying to hold those responsible to account and prevent another calamity. Fire tore through the overcrowded Club Pulse early Sunday in the eastern town of Kocani, leaving 59 people dead and 155 injured from burns, smoke inhalation, and being trampled in the panicked escape toward the building's single exit. Although the investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing, videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting Club Pulse's ceiling and igniting the blaze as a band played. People as young as 16 were among the casualties, and the nation declared seven days of mourning. 'We are all in shock, and I am shocked myself: as a mother, as a person, as a president,' North Macedonian President Gordana Davkova Siljanovska said in an address to the nation Sunday night. 'I still cannot believe that the terrible tragedy in Kocani is a reality. I do not know with what words to express my condolences to the parents and loved ones of the deceased,' she said. 'No one responsible should escape the law, justice, and punishment! Let us not allow anyone to endanger the lives of innocent people anymore.' The fire that shook the nation of 2 million–where close-knit extended family bonds made the disaster personal to many–was the latest in a string of deadly nightclub fires around the world. Authorities say they are investigating allegations of bribery surrounding the nightclub that was crammed with young revelers and at double capacity. And North Macedonia's government ordered a sweeping three-day inspection to be carried out at all nightclubs and cabarets across the country starting Monday. The country was in mourning as people watched harrowing scenes in the town of 25,000 people, where rescuers for hours carried out their grim task of removing the charred bodies of clubgoers. The fire caused the roof of the single-story building to partially collapse, revealing the charred remains of wooden beams and debris. Anxious parents gathered outside hospitals in Kocani and the capital, Skopje, some 115 kilometers (72 miles) west, for updates about the injured. Waiting outside the hospital in Kocani, Dragi Stojanov was among those who received the dreaded news that his 21-year-old son, Tomce, had perished. 'He was my only child. I don't need my life anymore. … 150 families have been devastated,' he told reporters. 'Children burnt beyond recognition. There are corpses, just corpses, inside (the club). … And the bosses (of organized crime) just putting money into their pockets.' Flags around the country have been lowered to half-staff, and the death toll may rise further, with 20 of the injured in critical condition, Health Minister Arben Taravari said. Neighboring and nearby countries–Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Turkey–have already accepted many of those with the most serious injuries, while the government was in talks with several other countries to expand the hospital transfers, officials said. 'All patients who have been transferred abroad are currently in stable condition. We hope it stays that way and that we will receive positive news from abroad,' Taravari said Monday, noting that several countries are also sending medical teams to North Macedonia. 'We even tried to get out through the bathroom, only to find bars (on the windows),' 19-year-old Marija Taseva told The Associated Press. 'I somehow managed to get out. I fell down the stairs, and they ran over me, trampled me. … I barely stayed alive and could hardly breathe.' She suffered an injury to her face. A state prosecutor said a preliminary inspection of the nightclub had revealed numerous safety code violations, including a lack of emergency exits, an insufficient number of fire extinguishers, and improper access for emergency vehicles, among others. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said 15 people had been detained for questioning after a preliminary inspection revealed the club was operating without a proper license. He said the number of people inside the club was at least double its official capacity of 250. 'We have grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption in this case,' he told reporters, without elaborating. Condolences poured in from leaders around Europe, as well as from the office of the hospitalized Pope Francis. 'I have had many difficult moments and challenges in my life, but today is by far the most difficult day of my life,' Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said in a televised address. 'My heart is breaking, and I have no strength to speak today. I am broken, and my spirit is broken.' Late Sunday, Kocani's residents held a candlelight vigil in support for mourning families waiting in long lines to light church candles. Beti Delovska, an economist from Skopje, said North Macedonia has never experienced a tragedy like this, with dozens of young people vanishing in minutes. And she noted that many young people with bright futures had already left the nation in search of opportunities elsewhere. '(North) Macedonia is on its death bed,' Delovska said. 'We have no more credible institutions, the health system is completely dismantled, education is poor, judiciary is partisan and corrupted to the bone. … I do believe now that only God can save (North) Macedonia.'
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Yahoo
Father mourns son, 21, killed in North Macedonia nightclub fire: ‘He had only just started to live'
A father has spoken of his devastation after learning his 21-year-old son was among at least 59 people killed in a nightclub fire in North Macedonia. Dragi Stojanov's son Tomce was among those inside Pulse nightclub in the eastern town of Kocani in the early hours of Sunday when the blaze began. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Mr Stojanov said his son had 'only [just] started to live". "He was my only child. I don't need my life anymore... 150 families have been devastated," he said. "Children burnt beyond recognition. There are corpses, just corpses inside [the club]." He told reporters he had stayed at the scene 'all night' as he awaited news of his son, claiming authorities "can't even get the bodies out" and that there "must be 200 people inside". Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed that the blaze, which erupted at around 2.30am local time during a performance by a local pop group, had killed at least 59 people and injured 155. Officials said 39 of the dead had so far been identified, adding that 18 of those injured were in critical condition. Mr Toshkovski said an initial investigation suggested pyrotechnics likely caused the roof to catch fire. Videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting the ceiling followed by scenes of chaos inside the club, with young people running through the smoke as the musicians urged people to escape as quickly as possible. Four arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the blaze. The fire is the worst tragedy in recent memory to befall the landlocked nation, whose population is less than two million, and the latest in a slew of deadly nightclub fires around the world. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje and spoke to parents waiting outside the building. "It's terrible ... hard to believe how this happened," she said, her voice halting with emotion. "We must give these young people courage to continue." The club was in an old building that was previously a carpet warehouse and has been running for several years, according to local media MKD. The fire caused the roof of the single-story building to partially collapse, revealing the charred remains of wooden beams and debris. Condolences have poured in from leaders around Europe as well as from the office of Pope Francis who has been in hospital for the last month. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was among them, saying: 'I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns alongside our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day.' Pyrotechnics have often been the cause of deadly fires in nightclubs, including one at the Colectiv club in Bucharest, Romania, in 2015 in which 64 people died.
Boston Globe
16-03-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
At least 59 dead and more than 150 injured in nightclub fire in North Macedonia
Family members were with a victim at a hospital on Sunday. Ferdi Limani/Getty Throughout Sunday, relatives gathered in front of hospitals and city offices in Kocani, some 115 kilometers (72 miles) east of the capital, Skopje, begging authorities for more information. Local resident Dragi Stojanov was informed that his 21-year-old son Tomce had died in the fire. 'He was my only child. I don't need my life anymore... 150 families have been devastated,' he said. 'Children burnt beyond recognition. There are corpses, just corpses inside (the club).' Condolences poured in from leaders around Europe as well as from the office of Pope Francis who has been in hospital for the last month, where he is fighting double pneumonia. Health Minister Arben Taravari said he had received offers of assistance from neighboring countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also sent messages of support. 'I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns alongside our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day,' Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X. In Skopje, health officials said the injured have been taken to hospitals around the country, many being treated for severe burns and smoke inhalation. The effort was being assisted by multiple volunteer organizations. Advertisement Relatives of victims waited for news at a hospital. Ferdi Limani/Getty 'All our capabilities have been put to use, in a maximum effort to save as many lives as possible of the young people involved in this tragedy,' Taravari told reporters, at times looking visibly shaken. Advertisement The fire is the worst tragedy in recent memory to befall the landlocked nation, whose population is less than 2 million, and the latest in a slew of deadly nightclub fires around the world. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje and spoke to parents waiting outside the building. 'It's terrible ... hard to believe how this happened,' she said, her voice halting with emotion. 'We must give these young people courage to continue.' The club was in an old building that was previously a carpet warehouse and has been running for several years, according to local media MKD. The fire caused the roof of the single-story building to partially collapse, revealing the charred remains of wooden beams and debris. Police cordoned off the site and sent in evidence gathering teams in an operation also involving state prosecutors. State prosecutor Ljubco Kocevski said several people were being questioned by police but gave no further details and stressed that the cause of the blaze was still being investigated. Interior ministry officials said authorities would investigate the venue's licensing and safety provisions, adding that the government had a 'moral responsibility' to help prosecute anyone responsible. Police have arrested one man already, but he didn't provide details on the person's involvement. Pyrotechnics have often been the cause of deadly fires in nightclubs, including the one at the Colectiv club in Bucharest, Romania, in 2015 in which 64 people died. AP writers from across Europe contributed.
Sky News
16-03-2025
- Sky News
Father's grief after losing only son in North Macedonia nightclub fire
A father has said his only son, who died in a nightclub fire in North Macedonia, had "only [just] started to live" and that more than 150 families have been left "devastated" by the tragedy. Dragi Stojanov's son Tomce, 21, was inside Pulse nightclub in the eastern town of Kocani in the early hours of Sunday when the fire broke out. Local media reports and video from inside the venue suggest fireworks were set off while local band DNK was performing, causing the roof to catch fire. Speaking at the scene on Sunday, interior minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed 59 people have died, 39 of whom have been identified, and more than 150 others injured. Mr Stojanov told reporters at the scene: "It's my only child and he died. What is left for me in life? I don't need my life anymore." Asked for his age, he said his son had "only [just] started to live". He stayed at the scene "all night", he added, claiming authorities "can't even get the bodies out" and that there "must be 200 people inside". Mr Stojanov described the victims as "children… burnt, beyond recognition". "There are corpses, just corpses inside. They can't pull them out. One-hundred-and-fifty families are devastated." Four arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the incident, which unfolded at 2.35am on Sunday. Survivor's sister was 'stomped over' An unnamed survivor also spoke to reporters at the scene. She suffered injuries to her ear and knee - and her sister is still missing. "The fire broke out suddenly and everyone started running for the exit," she said. "There were charred bodies. I don't know… everyone is stressed." She added that she and her family have been "unable to find" her sibling in any of the hospitals. "She is injured. Running outside she fell and people stomped over her," she told reporters. Rescuers and forensic investigators are still working at the scene, which was sealed off by police on Sunday morning. Officials said evidence would be passed to the local prosecutor. The country's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described the deadly incident as a "difficult and very sad day for Macedonia". "The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of the families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable," he wrote in a post on X. He promised the government would do "everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate their pain". Among those offering their condolences were Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns alongside our North Macedonian friends on this sad day," Mr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
