Key Points
- The death toll from a nightclub fire in North Macedonia has risen to 59, with more than 150 injured.
- The fire was probably caused by pyrotechnic devices "used for lighting effects at the concert".
- More than 20 people are under investigation over the blaze.
A fire ripped through a packed nightclub in the North Macedonian town of Kocani in the early hours of Sunday, killing 59 people and injuring more than 150, officials said, after sparks ignited the roof above a live band.
Authorities arrested about 20 people in connection with the fire, including government officials and the manager of the Pulse nightclub, which did not have a legitimate licence, interior minister Pance Toskovski told a press conference.
"We have a reason to suspect graft and corruption were involved in this case," he said, without providing details.
Club Pulse in the eastern town of Kocani was packed with mostly young fans attending a concert by popular hip-hop duo DNK when the fire erupted. Source: AP / Visar Kryeziu
Panicked rush to the exits
One video from the event, verified by Reuters, showed a band playing on stage flanked by two flares whose white sparks set a patch of ceiling alight. The fire spread fast and caused a panicked rush to the exits early on Sunday.
"Fire broke out, everyone started screaming and shouting: 'Get out, get out'," Marija Taseva, 22, said.
As she tried to escape, Taseva fell to the ground and people trod on her, injuring her face. In the rush, she lost contact with her sister, who did not make it out.
"My sister died," Taseva said, breaking into tears.
Toskovski confirmed that the fire, which began at around 3am local time, was caused by "pyrotechnic devices" whose sparks triggered the blaze.
He said 500 people were in the club when the fire started.
About 148 people were hospitalised in Skopje, Kocani and surrounding towns, Health Minister Arben Taravari said, adding that 20 people were critically injured.
People light candles in honor of the victims who lost their lives in the fire in the 'Club Pulse' night club. Source: AP / Armin Durgut / AP
Simeon Sokolov, 50, found his daughter Anastasija at the emergency ward of the September 8 hospital in the capital Skopje, where she was being treated for burns and smoke inhalation.
"I just know that there are many children who have suffered," he told Reuters.
Some patients were transferred to neighbouring Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece for treatment, authorities from those countries said.
North Macedonia's public prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski said five prosecutors would investigate the incident.
"At the moment, orders have been issued for collecting of evidence" and some people were being interviewed, Kocevski said, without elaborating.
North Macedonia Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said on Facebook: "This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia! The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, the pain of the families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable."
After visiting the injured in a hospital in Skopje, North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, dressed in black and fighting tears, said authorities were ready to do everything to help all affected.
