An investigation is under way after a fire broke out in a North Macedonian nightclub, which resulted in the deaths of 59 young people, with many more seriously injured.

The Pulse club in Kočani, a town around 100km (60 miles) east of the capital, Skopje, had attracted a huge crowd to watch a DNK, a popular local hip-hop band, when at around 02:30am sparks from pyrotechnic devices – known as stage jets – hit the ceiling, which was made of highly flammable material.

Fire quickly spread and panic set in amongst those in attendance many of whom were teenagers – some as young as 14-years-old – and during the frantic efforts to escape a stampede ensued, due to the fact there was only a single entry and exit point.

It is being reported that only 39 of those who died have so far been identified, due to the horrific burns they suffered, one of which was a young professional footballer who is said to have been heroically trying to help others to safety.

Nearly 200 others were injured in the chaos, including 22 who are known to be in a critical condition, meaning the death toll is highly likely to increase.

The club has been described as a “improvised” and seemingly did not have a legal licence to operate and the police have detained at least 15 people, including the son of the club’s owner and members of the band.

Interior Minister Pance Toskovski said that there were “grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption” linked to the fire, with witnesses suggesting the venue was at double capacity.

North Macedonia’s President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, added that the most seriously injured were being taken to specialist burns clinics in neighbouring Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Turkey.

The government has declared seven days of national mourning, and it will hold an emergency session as part of ongoing investigations into how the incident unfolded.

Terrifying situation

Footage of the incident showed the chart-topping band playing on stage as two flares went off causing sparks to set the ceiling on fire, spreading rapidly. People can be seen to try to extinguish the flames with the club still full, before sheer panic set in and everyone rushed to get out.

The horrific scenes that followed saw many of those inside the club fall to the ground and be trampled under foot in a desperate attempt to escape the terrifying situation they found themselves in.

Heroic footballer loses life

Red Cross volunteer Mustafa Saidov called the situation inside the nightclub “chaotic and brutal” as identification of those who died was attempted.

Twenty-five-year-old footballer Andrej Lazarov, was tragically one of those identified. He was a former youth international for Macedonia and spent time playing in Croatia for just over a year, before joining Macedonian First Football League club FC Shkupi in September, 2024.

His club paid tribute to him in a released statement: “As the heroic person he was, Andrej lost his life while trying to help others escape the flames and during his courageous act, he was overcome by smoke. His bravery and humanity in those final moments will always be remembered and it is an immense loss for our club, his teammates, and the football community; words cannot express the pain we feel during this tragedy.”

Major burn injuries

Those who did manage to get out alive but suffered significant injuries were initially transported to the local hospital in the town, or to facilities in the town of Stip, 30 kilometres to the south.

Helicopters then ferried some of the injured to hospitals in Skopje, before others were flown to facilities in bordering countries.

Vladislav Gruev, a specialist in reconstructive and plastic surgery at the University Clinic for Surgical Diseases, explained how he had been treating survivors. “Most of them have extensive burn injuries, above 18% surface body area, second and third degree burns on the head, neck, upper torso, upper limbs, hands and fingers.”

Only one exit

Early inspection of the club in the hours after the flames were put out, revealed several of what investigators are describing as  “abnormalities” in the venue, including “deficiencies” in the fire-extinguishing and lighting system.

Witnesses had already confirmed that there was only one exit for around 500 people – bearing in mind there was around 1,500 inside – as the only other door at the back of Pulse was locked.

Will not avoid accountability

The President said she was shocked “as a mother and as a person” and told those who had lost loved-ones that their “immense pain” was hers too.

She wrote in a statement. “Let us not allow anyone to endanger the lives of innocent people again” before adding that there needed to be accountability for what had happened, insisting that none of the responsible should avoid the law, the justice or the punishment.

PM’s promise

The Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski called it a “difficult and very sad day” wishing the injured a speedy recovery and the bereaved families the strength to bear the “unimaginable loss”.

In a firm statement there was a promise that the government would do everything possible to “alleviate their pain” and an assurance that there would be “no mercy” for anyone to blame, regardless of political rank or party affiliation.