A father whose only son died in a nightclub fire in North Macedonia has expressed his immense grief, stating that his son had “only [just] started to live” and that the tragedy has left well over 150 families “devastated”.
Dragi Stojanov’s son, Tomce, aged 21, was trapped inside the Pulse nightclub in Kocani during the early morning hours of Sunday when the fire broke out.
Following local media reports and footage from the scene, there were indications that fireworks were ignited during a performance by local band DNK, leading to the venue’s roof catching fire.
Addressing the media at the tragedy site on Sunday, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed 59 fatalities, with 39 of those victims identified, and over 150 individuals injured.
Dragi Stojanov, father of victim Tomce Stojanov. Pic: AP
Mr Stojanov, filled with anguish, told reporters at the scene, “It’s my only child and he died. What is left for me in life? I don’t need my life anymore.”
When asked about his son’s age, he poignantly remarked that his child had “only [just] started to live”.
He stayed on throughout the entire night, claiming that authorities were struggling to even retrieve the bodies and estimating there “must be 200 people inside”.
Mr Stojanov described the victims as “children… burnt, beyond recognition”.
“There are corpses, just corpses inside. They can’t pull them out. One-hundred-and-fifty families are devastated.”
Four arrest warrants have been issued in relation to the incident, which occurred at 2:35 a.m. on Sunday.
One of the survivors who was injured in the fire
Survivor’s sister was ‘stomped over’
An unnamed survivor, speaking to reporters at the site, recounted her harrowing experience.
She suffered injuries to her ear and knee, and lamented that her sister remains unaccounted for.
“The fire broke out suddenly and everyone started running for the exit,” she said. “There were charred bodies. I don’t know… everyone is stressed.”
The Pulse nightclub had damage to the roof. Pic: AP
She added that her family is desperately searching for her sister in hospitals but to no avail.
“She is injured. Running outside, she fell and people stomped over her,” she told reporters.
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Emergency responders and forensic investigators are still on the scene, which was secured by the police on Sunday morning.
Officials stated that evidence would be provided to the local prosecutor.
The country’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, referred to the tragic event as a “difficult and very sad day for Macedonia”.
“The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of the families, loved ones, and friends is immeasurable,” he wrote in a statement.
Emergency services and locals gather at the scene in Kocani. Pic: Reuters
The Prime Minister assured the government would do “everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate the suffering.”
Among the condolences were those offered by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns alongside our North Macedonian friends on this sorrowful day,” Mr Zelenskyy stated.
