Thousands of people gathered in North Macedonia on Monday, March 17 to mourn the 59 lives lost in a nightclub fire and to demand justice for what they call a preventable disaster.
The fire, which broke out during a hip-hop concert in the town of Kocani, has become the country’s worst tragedy in years, exposing deep-rooted corruption and negligence.
The blaze erupted around 3 a.m. on Sunday when sparks from flares ignited the ceiling of the unlicensed “Pulse” nightclub. With only one exit—locked during the concert—hundreds of panicked attendees were trapped as flames engulfed the building.
Bulldozers and workers prepared fresh graves in the local cemetery, while families of the missing queued outside hospitals to provide DNA samples for identification.
The nightclub, described by local media as a former carpet warehouse, lacked basic safety measures, including fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and a fire alarm system. Officials confirmed that the venue’s license was illegally obtained, raising questions about regulatory oversight.
Protesters Call for Accountability and an End to Corruption
In the wake of the disaster, thousands of protesters gathered in Kocani’s central square, lighting candles and writing messages of condolence. Placards reading, “We are not dying from accidents; we are dying from corruption,” and “Everything is legal here if you have connections,” highlighted public anger over systemic corruption.
Similar vigils were held in Skopje, the capital, where hundreds called for accountability. Violence briefly erupted when protesters targeted a pub allegedly owned by the same individual who ran the “Pulse” nightclub.
Meanwhile, survivors and grieving families shared their heartbreak and frustration. Jovan, a 16-year-old who lost a friend in the fire, said,
“I want everyone who helped this place carry on with its business to be jailed. We need change because this is a corrupt country.”
Draghi Stojanov, who lost his son in the fire, told Reuters, “After this tragedy, what do I need this life for? I had one child, and I lost him.”
Investigations and Arrests Already Underway
Authorities have arrested approximately 20 individuals, including government officials and the nightclub’s manager. State prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski stated that the club operated in “substandard conditions,” with flammable materials and a single locked exit contributing to the high death toll.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski confirmed that the nightclub’s license was issued illegally by the economy ministry and vowed that those responsible would face justice. Former economy minister Kreshnik Bekteshi has been questioned in connection with the disaster.
As at the time of filing this report, over 150 people were injured in the fire, with 51 receiving treatment in hospitals across Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey.
Burn specialists from Serbia, the Czech Republic, and Israel arrived in North Macedonia on Monday to help the local medical teams with treatment of the victims. Additional patients are expected to be transferred to hospitals in Croatia and Romania.
