Key events
Videos circulating on social media show chaotic scenes inside the Pulse nightclub, with young people running through the smoke as the popular hip-hop duo DNK, who were performing on stage, urged people to escape as quickly as possible.
Marta Kos, the European commissioner for enlargement, has offered her thoughts with the victims of the fire in Kočani, writing in a post on X:
Deeply saddened by the tragic fire in Kočani North Macedonia, which claimed lives of too many young people.
My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and the whole of North Macedonia during this terrible tragedy!
“I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns alongside our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, posted on X that she was “deeply saddened” and said the 27-nation bloc “shares the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia.
Here are some of the latest images coming out from the newswires following the deadly fire in North Macedonia:
Relatives of some of the victims have gathered in front of hospitals and Kočani’s city offices asking authorities for more information, according to reports.
As a reminder, Kočani is a small town of around 30,000 people about 60 miles (100km) east of the capital, Skopje.
We have some more comments from interior minister Panche Toshkovski that are being carried by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.
Toskovski said the fire was probably caused by the use of pyrotechnic devices “used for light effect at the concert”.
“At the moment of activating the so-called sprinklers, the sparks caught the ceiling that was made of easily flammable material after which for a very short period of time the fire spread across the whole discotheque, creating a thick smoke” he was quoted as having told reporters.
Officials confirm at least 51 people were killed in nightclub fire
Interior minister Panche Toshkovski has confirmed that at least 51 people were killed and over 100 others were injured in the nightclub fire in North Macedonia.
“According to the data we have by now, 51 persons lost their lives, and more than 100 persons are injured and transported in the hospitals in Stip, Kocani and Skopje,” he said after visiting the scene in Kočani.
North Macedonia’s MRT public broadcaster reported earlier that 27 people were hospitalised at the Skopje city hospital with severe burns, while another 23 were being treated at the Clinical Centre. Among the injured were children, it said.
Loss of so many young lives in the ‘tragedy’ of nightclub fire is ‘irreparable’ – prime minister
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickosk has expressed “deep sadness” about the “tragedy” of the nightclub fire. He said the loss of so many young lives is “irreparable” as he extended his condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed in the blaze.
Mickosk wished those injured a speedy recovery and said the government is “fully mobilised” to help determine the cause of the fire.
“I call on all competent institutions – health services, police, local authorities – to take urgent measures to assist the injured and support the affected families,” he said in a statement posted to Facebook.
“During the day, after reviewing the circumstances from the competent institutions, I will address the public with more information about the steps taken,” the prime minister added.
“In these times of deep sadness, when our hearts are broken with pain due to this terrible tragedy, I call for unity, solidarity, humanity and responsibility.”
Deadly fire may have been caused by the use of pyrotechnics – interior minister
North Macedonian interior minister, Panche Toshkovski, has been speaking to journalists at a press conference following the deadly nightclub fire.
The concert, attended by as many as 1,500 fans, at the Pulse club was full of mainly young people.
Toshkovski said some of the young clubgoers used pyrotechnics that caused the roof to catch fire, according to the Associated Press.
He told the press conference that police have arrested one man, but didn’t provide details on the person’s involvement. We have not been able to independently verify this information yet.
At least 50 people killed in North Macedonian nightclub fire – officials
At least 50 people have been killed in a nightclub fire in North Macedonia in the early hours of Sunday, according to the state news agency, citing the interior ministry. More than 100 people were said to have been injured.
The fire reportedly broke out around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) during a performance by hip-hop group ADN at the Pulse club in Kočani, a town around 100 km (60 miles) east of the capital, Skopje.
The injured were taken either to the local hospital in Kočani or to Stip, about 20 miles south.
We will give you the latest updates on this breaking story throughout the day.
