Sun Mar 16 11:47:42 UTC 2025: ## North Macedonia Nightclub Fire Kills 59, Injures Over 100
**Kocani, North Macedonia** – A devastating fire ripped through the “Club Pulse” nightclub in the eastern town of Kocani early Sunday morning, leaving at least 59 people dead and more than 100 injured. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski attributed the blaze to pyrotechnic devices used during a concert by popular hip-hop duo DNK. The sparks ignited the easily flammable ceiling material, causing the fire to spread rapidly and fill the club with thick, deadly smoke.
The nightclub, packed with over 1,000 mostly young people, quickly became a scene of chaos. Helicopters were deployed to transport some of the critically injured to hospitals in the capital, Skopje, approximately 100 kilometers away. At least 27 victims were admitted to the Naum Ohridski clinic alone.
Minister Toskovski stated that the investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, focusing on the improper use of pyrotechnics. This tragedy follows a similar incident in September 2021, where a fire at a COVID-19 unit in Tetovo claimed 14 lives. The current incident is North Macedonia’s deadliest fire in recent memory, prompting a national outpouring of grief and raising serious questions about fire safety regulations in the country.
First Piper 