North Macedonia Unites in Grief and Anger After Nightclub Fire Tragedy

A devastating nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia, has led to the deaths of 59 individuals, prompting nationwide mourning and outrage over safety regulations and alleged corruption that facilitated the tragedy.

Thousands of mourners have come together in North Macedonia to pay their respects following a horrific nightclub fire that claimed the lives of 59 people in Kocani. The tragic incident occurred at the Pulse club, which authorities revealed had been operating with an illegal license and lacked essential safety features, such as fire sprinklers. The venue, previously a carpet warehouse, reportedly had a single emergency exit that was locked during the fire.

As funeral services commenced across the country, communities were enveloped in sorrow, with many attendees holding photographs of their lost loved ones. In the small town of Kocani, home to fewer than 30,000 residents, the grim reality of losing dozens of young lives deeply affected the local population. At a funeral for Andrej Gorgieski, a 43-year-old musician who performed at the club, around 1,000 individuals gathered to honor his memory.

The sense of grief has been accompanied by rising anger directed at the systemic corruption that allowed the nightclub to operate unsafely. In the days following the tragedy, protests erupted, with citizens demanding accountability from government officials and law enforcement. Demonstrations turned violent, culminating in vandalism of establishments affiliated with the club’s owner and confrontations outside local government buildings.

In response to the disaster, the North Macedonian government has initiated comprehensive safety inspections of nightclubs and cafes across the country. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski indicated that the fire erupted around 2:30 AM, with the club exceeding its capacity and potentially benefiting from corrupt practices that undermined safety protocols. The investigation has already implicated over 20 individuals, including police officers and municipal representatives, as public frustration continues to mount.

Among the injured, more than 160 individuals were reported, with at least 45 suffering severe injuries that necessitated medical transfer to hospitals in neighboring countries. The ongoing grief and outrage have effectively united the nation, as both young and old gather to mourn the lives lost and advocate for long-overdue reforms in public safety.