In brief
A catastrophic incident in Kocani, North Macedonia, led to the deaths of at least 51 people and injuries to over 100, following a fire ignited by fireworks during a pop concert, as reported by government officials.
At least 51 individuals have lost their lives and more than 100 have sustained injuries due to a fire that erupted in a nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, during the early hours of Sunday. Government spokeswoman Marija Miteva confirmed the grim toll. According to the country’s interior minister, Panche Toshkovski, the inferno was ignited by fireworks that were set off during a pop concert. "This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia," expressed Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski via a post on X, reflecting the profound loss of youth and the immeasurable grief of families and friends impacted by this tragedy. The nightclub, located around 50 miles from the capital city, Skopje, was hosting a lively concert when the fire broke out. As details surrounding the incident are still being ascertained, the public prosecutor's office in Kocani is diligently working to verify the number of victims while probing the circumstances surrounding the catastrophic blaze.In a heartfelt message, Angela Aggeler, the American ambassador to North Macedonia, shared on X, “My heart breaks this morning for the many victims in last night's fire at a nightclub in Kochani,” underscoring the tragedy of losing so many young lives in a single incident. This heartbreaking story is still developing as officials work to uncover more information regarding the cause and extent of the disaster. Alisa Dogramadzieva has contributed to this report from Belgrade.
