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At least 51 people have lost their lives, and over 100 others have been injured in a devastating nightclub fire in North Macedonia, officials confirm.
The fire broke out around 02:30 (01:30 GMT) at the Pulse club in Kocani, a town approximately 100 km (60 miles) east of the capital, Skopje. Videos shared on social media show the building engulfed in flames.
An estimated 1,500 people were attending a concert by DNK, a well-known hip-hop duo in the country, when the incident occurred.
Interior Minister Pance Toskovski stated that preliminary reports suggest the fire was ignited by sparks from pyrotechnic devices. He explained that the sparks reached a highly flammable ceiling, causing the fire to spread rapidly throughout the club. Authorities have made several arrests in connection with the incident.
Footage captures the moment flares went off during the band's performance, with sparks igniting the ceiling before the fire quickly engulfed the venue.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski addressed the tragedy on Facebook, assuring that the government was fully mobilized to handle the aftermath and investigate the causes of the disaster. He described it as a "difficult and deeply sorrowful day" for the nation, which has lost many young lives.
Initially, the hospital in Kocani admitted 90 victims, many suffering from severe burns. Some of the injured have since been transferred to medical facilities in Skopje for advanced treatment.
