North Macedonia nightclub fire updates: At least 59 killed during concert

To keep up to date on the nightclub disaster in North Macedonia, read our news story here.

And see images here of the aftermath of the deadly fire in the eastern town of Kocani.

This live page will soon close. Here are the latest developments:

• The death toll from the blaze at the Pulse nightclub in North Macedonia’s Kocani town stands at 59, with 155 injured.
• Some of the victims at the venue – where a popular pop band was playing – are as young as 14, with most in their 20s.
• The fire broke out when indoor fireworks were set off during the music performance, igniting the ceiling and causing the flames to spread rapidly.
• The Interior Ministry issued arrest warrants for four people in connection to the blaze, along with orders for emergency inspections of all clubs and party venues.
• Many of the injured – suffering from burns and carbon monoxide poisoning – were transferred to medical facilities in the capital Skopje and neighbouring nations.
• Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski pledged the government “will do whatever is necessary to address the consequences and determine the causes of this tragedy”.

The head of the Kocani Hospital, Kristina Serafimovska, told local media that most patients being treated there are aged 14-25.

“Seventy of the patients have burns and carbon monoxide poisoning,” she said.

Stojanche Angelov, head of North Macedonia’s Crisis Management Centre, said the plan is to move badly injured wounded to various hospitals around the continent.

“Preparations are being made to transport people seriously injured in the fire in Kocani to top hospitals in several European countries.”

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje and spoke to parents waiting outside the building.

“It’s terrible … hard to believe how this happened,” she said, her voice halting with emotion. “We must give these young people courage to continue.”

The nightclub was in an old building that was previously a carpet warehouse and has been running for several years, according to local media outlet MKD.

Authorities are investigating the venue’s licensing and safety provisions. Arrest warrants were issued for four people and police arrested one man already, but the person’s alleged involvement is unclear.

People are searching for missing loved ones online and at hospitals across North Macedonia after the nightclub blaze. Many friends and family were separated in a panicked rush for the exits.

“Everyone was trying to save themselves,” survivor Marija Taseva, 22, told local TV 5.

As she tried to escape, Taseva fell to the ground and people trod over her. In the stampede, she lost contact with her sister who is still missing. “We can’t find her in any hospital.”

Others were more fortunate. Simeon Sokolov, 50, found his daughter Anastasija at the emergency ward of the September 8 Hospital in the capital Skopje, where she was being treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

An unnamed young woman who managed to escape the burning building described the scene to local media outside a hospital in North Macedonia’s capital Skopje.

“Initially we didn’t believe there was a fire. Then there was huge panic in the crowd and a stampede to get out,” she said.

Fire crews and paramedics responded quickly and “tried to resuscitate people … but it wasn’t enough”, said the woman waiting outside for one of her friends, who was being treated for burns to his hand.

One of the members of the DNK duo who performed, Vladimir Blazev, suffered burns to his face and needed assistance breathing, his sister told local news outlets.

Serbia’s top football league announced a minute of silence before all matches played on Sunday to honour those who lost their lives in the fire in Kocani.

“All matches today in the Superliga and the Serbian First League will begin with a minute of silence to pay tribute to the victims of the tragic fire in North Macedonia,” the league announced on its website.

The Vatican says the pontiff, who remains hospitalised, has sent prayers to the victims and survivors of the deadly fire in Kocani.

Pope Francis wished “to convey to the families of the dead, mostly young people, the expression of his deep condolence, signifying spiritual closeness to the wounded”, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin wrote in a message addressed to the bishop of Skopje, Kiro Stojanov.

Videos posted on social media networks and shot before the fire started show the use of “stage fountains” – a type of indoor fireworks used during performances.

As they were set off, “the sparks caught the ceiling, which was made of easily flammable material, after which the fire rapidly spread across the whole discotheque, creating thick smoke”, said Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski.

The establishment was packed with more than 1,000 mostly young fans to see the popular pop band DNK.

North Macedonia’s government is expected to declare a seven-day mourning period for the victims of the nightclub fire in Kocani, reports the country’s Sloboden Pecat newspaper.

It is also planning to order emergency inspections of all nightclubs and restaurant venues that host parties, according to the publication.

As we reported earlier, Interior Minister Pance Toshkovski has said officials would take steps to ensure “something like this doesn’t happen again”.

Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

• The death toll from a nightclub fire in North Macedonia’s Kocani has risen to 59, with 155 injured, according to the Interior Ministry.
• Condolences have poured in from across the continent, with neighbouring Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Albania offering to provide assistance or help treat the wounded.
• Hospital officials say most of the injured are aged 14 to 24.
• The government is planning to declare a seven-day mourning period over the disaster and order emergency inspections of all clubs, according to local media reports.

Dragi Stojanov, the father of one of the nightclub fire victims, told Al Jazeera the deaths of 59 young people mean “tragedy” for the families. His 21-year-old son Tomce died in the fire.

“After this catastrophe, what is life to me? I don’t need it. I had one child and I’ve lost him,” he said.

Videos showed chaos inside the club with young people running through the smoke as the musicians on stage urged them to escape as quickly as possible.

Interior Minister Pance Toshkovski told reporters 39 of the dead had so far been identified.

A post shared on North Macedonia’s news portal Skopje1.mk’s social media account shared a video captured by fans of the moment the fire erupted during the DNK concert in Kocani.

The singers can be heard urging, “Everyone head out right now!” while the crowd erupts in panic.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Скопје1 / Skopje1.mk (@skopje1mk)

Reactions to the deadly fire in North Macedonia have come from across Europe, with several countries offering to send resources or admit victims to their healthcare facilities.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov: Extended condolences for the “huge human tragedy” and offered to deploy the country’s air force to transport some of the injured for treatment in Bulgaria.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic: Offered to send helicopters, ambulances, and medical teams, as well as to admit many of the wounded at Serbian hospitals. Vucic also plans to declare March 18 a day of mourning over the tragedy.

Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic: Said he is “speechless” over the “tragedy” and Montenegro will declare March 17 as a day of mourning.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Sent “heartfelt condolences to the people of North Macedonia” and said Greece is ready to assist.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama: Said he’s at a “loss of words” over the tragedy and also expressed readiness “to provide any assistance that may be needed”.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti: Expressed condolences and wished a “swift and full recovery to those injured”.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Wished those injured “a speedy recovery” and said “Ukraine mourns alongside our Macedonian friends on this sad day”.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: Called the fire “shocking” and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas: Said the EU “shares the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia”.

Here’s a look at some other deadly nightclub and music venue fires over the past 10 years:

• April 2024 – Istanbul, Turkiye: At least 29 people were killed in a fire at the Masquerade nightclub in central Istanbul during daytime renovation work.
• October 2023 – Murcia, Spain: A blaze that ripped through adjoining nightclubs left 13 people dead.
• January 2022 – Sorong, Indonesia: A nightclub caught fire after two groups attacked each other inside the building. Nineteen people were killed.
• January 2022 – Yaounde, Cameroon: A fire at Liv’s Nightclub Yaouba set off explosions that killed 17 people. The government suggested that fireworks set the roof alight and the fire then spread to areas where cooking gas was stored.
• December 2016 – Oakland, USA: Thirty-six people died in a fire at a California warehouse that had been converted into a residence and event space for artists dubbed the “Ghost Ship”. The blaze, which broke out during an electronic music and dance party, moved so quickly that victims were trapped on the illegally constructed second floor.
• October 2015 – Bucharest, Romania: A blaze that broke out during a rock brand’s pyrotechnics display at the Colectiv nightclub killed 64 people. The fire triggered huge street protests and ultimately led to the collapse of the government.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has offered assistance to North Macedonia after the fire.

In a phone conversation with North Macedonia’s president, Vucic offered to send helicopters, ambulances, and medical teams. He also said the injured could be brought to hospitals in Serbia.

“I expressed my heartfelt condolences to President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova following the tragic event in North Macedonia, which has deeply affected not only the people of that country but also all of us in Serbia,” Vucic posted on his Instagram account.

Serbia will declare March 18 a day of mourning to honour the victims of “this tragedy”, he added.

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has held a phone conversation with his North Macedonian counterpart, Timcho Mucunski, extending his condolences for the loss of life caused by the nightclub fire in Kocani.

In a statement, the Greek Foreign Ministry said Gerapetritis expressed Greece’s readiness “to provide any necessary assistance” to the neighbouring country, including rescue teams and medical support.

According to Greek media reports, North Macedonian authorities have requested the transfer of some injured people to hospitals in Thessaloniki, a city in northern Greece and the country’s second largest.

FM George Gerapetritis had a 📞 conversation with the FM of North Macedonia Timcho Mucunski. 🇬🇷 FM extended his condolences for the loss of life caused by the tragic fire that broke out last night in the town of Kocani. pic.twitter.com/AglyLYJ5ie

— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) March 16, 2025