Government officials among 20 arrested after 59 killed in North Macedonia nightclub fire

Around 20 arrests have been made over a nightclub fire that killed at least 59 people in North Macedonia.

Authorities said 155 others were injured after the blaze broke out at Pulse in the eastern town of Kocani at around 2.35am on Sunday.

Sparks ignited the roof while local band DNK was performing, sending hundreds of people scrambling for the small venue’s only exit.

Video from inside showed the band playing on stage before two flares went off either side of them and shot towards the ceiling.

Interior minister Pance Toskovski told a news conference, reported by the Reuters news agency, that more than 20 of those injured and three of the people killed were aged under 18.

He said government officials and the manager of the club, which did not have a valid licence, are among around 20 people who have been arrested in connection with the fire.

The club owner’s son and members of the band are also among those who have been held, he said.

North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the licence was issued illegally by the economy ministry and promised those responsible would face justice.

“Regardless of who they are, from which institution, from what level, from which party and profession,” he said as he declared seven days of national mourning.

Some of the injured are being treated at Kocani General Hospital, where relatives have gathered desperate for more information, newspaper Nova Makedonija said.

Broadcaster MRT reported that 27 people were being treated for severe burns at Skopje City Hospital, with another 23 at the Clinical Centre.

‘This was my only child’

Dragi Stojanov’s only son Tomce died in the fire.

“It’s my only child and he died,” he told reporters at the scene. “What am I supposed to do?”

He said he had been there “all night” and that “they can’t even get bodies out”, with “200 people” still inside.

“This was my only child. I don’t need my life anymore. I don’t need my life,” he told the media.

A woman who was in the nightclub when the fire broke out suffered an injured ear and knee, and her sister is still missing.

“The fire broke out suddenly and everyone started running for the exit,” the unnamed survivor said.

“There were charred bodies. I don’t know… everyone is stressed.

“My sister is missing, we were unable to find her in the hospitals, so now we’re waiting here, to find out if she’s here.”

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Mr 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”.

Police and forensic investigators cordoned off the scene on Sunday, with authorities saying evidence would be collected for state prosecutors.

North Macedonia’s public prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski said five prosecutors would investigate the incident.

He said people were being interviewed, adding: “At the moment, orders have been issued to collect evidence”.

The US ambassador to North Macedonia Angela Aggeler also posted on X, saying her “heart breaks this morning for the many victims in last night’s fire at a nightclub in Kochani”.

“Our deepest condolences go to the victims and their loved ones at this awful time, and wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured,” she said.

Various leaders offered their condolences, including 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.