Flags have been flown at half-mast in North Macedonia as the nation grappled with the heartbreaking aftermath of a nightclub fire that claimed the lives of 59 individuals over the weekend. Thousands gathered at memorials to mourn the victims after the blaze occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning during a performance by hip-hop band DNK at the Pulse club in Kocani.
The blaze broke out at about 3 AM local time when sparks from flares set the ceiling ablaze, transforming the packed venue, which was already two-thirds full to capacity, into a scene of pandemonium. Besides the deaths, some 155 others were injured in the incident, triggering an upsurge in grief and support throughout the small Balkan nation.
Officials are probing allegations of regulatory infractions and possible bribery in relation to the club. To date, around 20 individuals, including government officials and the manager of the club, have been arrested for questioning.
Among the victims was one of DNK’s singers, Andrej Gjorgjieski, while other band and crew members perished in the blaze. Health Minister Arben Taravari noted that there was a likelihood of a rise in the number of deaths, as 20 injured individuals are currently in critical condition.
Other countries, such as Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Turkiye, have also come in to assist, evacuating around 50 critically wounded patients for treatment. Physicians from several countries are also en route to North Macedonia to help.
“All abroad transferred patients are stable, and we expect good news,” Taravari said.
In the capital city, Skopje, hundreds braved the rain to attend a student-arranged memorial, where people stood in silence, placed flowers, and lit candles at an improvised shrine. Emotions ran high, with some visitors showing anger and indignation at the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
“This is not an accident but a direct result of negligence,” Angela Zumbakova, a psychology student, said. “We cannot remain silent, no matter out of fear.”
Likewise, Sasa Djenic, a teacher at a school whose daughter survived the fire with burns, shared similar concerns. “The nightclub was operated under substandard conditions. Who is to blame for this?” she questioned.
As the investigation is going on, a state coroner stated bodies are being identified in batches due to the sheer number of victims. In Kocani, there have been lines waiting to sign condolence books, and President Gordana Davkova Siljanovska expressed her shock and sorrow in a national broadcast.
Condolences have been sent from European leaders, one of which was from Pope Francis, who is in hospital.
Al Jazeera’s Maja Blazevska explained that individuals in Kocani were blaming the country’s corrupt system, as they referred to it, for the disaster. Subsequently, the government mandated a three-day inspection of every night club and cabaret around the nation.
Public Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski revealed that the first inspections of the nightclub revealed a high number of safety violations, including too few emergency exits and no fire extinguishers. The fire even caused some of the roof to cave in, leaving burned remains.
“The system has broken down,” Kocevski explained, detailing the severe deficits that led to the catastrophe. His agency is currently involved in determining the criminal liability of everyone implicated, with a focus on serious offenses against public security.
As North Macedonia mourns, responsibility and the need for timely reforms so something so horrible might never happen again come into play.
