Dozens dead, 100 injured, after North Macedonian nightclub blaze
A fire that broke out at a nightclub in North Macedonia has reportedly killed at least 51 people and injured around 100 more, according to officials.
Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski told a press conference “at least 50 people died in a discotheque in Kocani”, a town some 100 kilometres east of the capital Skopje.
Mr Toshkovski said “around 1,500 people” were in attendance in the nightclub Pulse during a concert by DNK, a hip-hop duo popular in the country.
He said the young club-goers used pyrotechnics that caused the roof to catch fire.
In the top left corner, social media video shows the fire inside the North Macedonian venue. (Reuters)
Videos showed chaos inside the night club, with people running through the smoke as the musicians urged people to escape as quickly as possible.
The interior minister added police have arrested one man, but didn’t provide details on the person’s involvement.
North Macedonian prime minister Hristijan Mickoski wrote it was a “difficult and very sad day for Macedonia” on social media.
“The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of the families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable,” he said.
“The people and the government will do everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate their pain and help them in these most difficult moments.”
Public broadcaster MRT reported that 27 people were hospitalised at the Skopje City Hospital with severe burns, and another 23 were being treated at the Clinical Center.
Among the injured were minors, it said.
Family members have gathered in front of hospitals and Kocani’s city offices begging authorities for more information.
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