A devastating fire has claimed the lives of at least 50 individuals at a nightclub in North Macedonia, where more than a thousand people had gathered for a concert. According to the state news agency MIA, the deadly blaze occurred at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani, a town located approximately 60 miles east of the capital, Skopje, where around 1,500 individuals were present for a performance by the popular hip-hop duo DNK.

The concert, which commenced at midnight on Saturday, attracted a predominantly young audience. MIA reported that the fire broke out at 3 am (0200 GMT) based on information provided by rescue sources. SDK, an online media outlet, mentioned that over 100 people were injured as a result of the incident.

Efforts were made to treat the wounded individuals, with some being taken to the local hospital in Kočani and others transported to Stip, approximately 20 miles to the south. Despite the severity of the incident, AFP was unable to confirm the details with North Macedonia’s authorities.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/16/north-macedonia-nightclub-fire-kocani-pulse