Tragedy At 'Pulse' Nightclub: 59 Dead, 155 Injured In North Macedonia Fire

At least 59 people have died and around 155 were injured after a devastating fire ripped through the ‘Pulse’ nightclub in Kochani, North Macedonia. The country’s interior minister blamed pyrotechnics for triggering the deadly blaze.

Hundreds of people had gathered at the club, located east of the capital Skopje, to watch the local music duo DNK perform when the fire broke out early Sunday morning. DNK are reported to be among the victims.

Ages of Victims Range from 16 to 24

Dr. Kristina Serafimova, head of Kochani General Hospital, confirmed that the victims were aged between 16 and 24. She revealed that most of the casualties were caused by a crowd crush as people scrambled to escape.

Fire Sparked by Pyrotechnics

Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed the number of deaths at a press conference, explaining that stage effects sparked the fire, which rapidly spread through the nightclub.

“The fire was caused by pyrotechnics used for lighting effects at the concert,” Toshkovski said. “Sparks ignited a flammable section of the ceiling, causing thick smoke to fill the club and triggering chaos.”

Footage from inside the venue shows the band performing as pyrotechnics shoot sparks at the front of the stage.

Terrifying Escape

Marija Taseva, 22, described the terrifying scene to local TV channel Kanal 5.

“Everyone was trying to save themselves,” she said. “I fell, and people trampled over me. I lost contact with my sister — we can’t find her in any hospital.”

Hospitals Overwhelmed

At least 152 injured victims were rushed to hospitals across the country, many suffering from severe burns to their hands and faces. Vlatko Zahariev, head of Shtip’s hospital, confirmed that 27 of the most seriously injured will receive treatment abroad.

Football Star Among the Dead

Among the deceased was 25-year-old football player Andrej Lazarov, his club FC Shkupi announced in an Instagram post.

Investigation Underway

Police have detained the nightclub owner and are searching for four others connected to the disaster. North Macedonian Justice Minister Igor Filkov vowed that all responsible parties would be held accountable.

National and International Mourning

North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described it as a "difficult and very sad day."

"The loss of so many young lives is irreparable," Mickoski wrote on X.

Leaders across Europe, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, have expressed their condolences. US Ambassador Angela Aggeler also posted about the tragedy, offering support from the US embassy.

Pope Francis extended his "deep condolences" to the victims’ families, assuring them that those lost will be remembered in prayer.

One of the Deadliest Nightclub Fires in a Decade

The disaster is among the deadliest nightclub fires in recent memory. In 2015, 64 people were killed in a nightclub fire in Bucharest, Romania, also caused by pyrotechnics. In 2013, more than 240 people died in a nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil, under similar circumstances.

Week of National Mourning Declared

North Macedonia’s government has declared a week of national mourning to honor the victims of the Pulse nightclub tragedy.