site.btaUPDATED North Macedonia's Interior Minister Says Kocani Fire Killed 59, Injured 155

North Macedonia's Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski held a press conference on Sunday regarding the fire that broke out in a night club in Kocani in the early hours of the day. He reported that 59 people were killed and 155 were injured in the fire. 

There is no official information on the exact number of people inside the night club at the time of the incident. Toshkovski said that a police officer, who was inspecting the venue for illegal drug activity and underage attendees, is among the fatalities.

"The Interior Ministry is taking the necessary measures to establish who is responsible," Toshkovski said during the press conference, which was broadcast by the Media Information Agency (MIA).

The Minister said that at around 2:35 a.m. on Sunday, a police officer who was supervising catering establishments at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani received an alert about a fire having broken out at the club during a concert by the band DNK.

The Territorial Fire Department and the Emergency Medical Service were notified immediately and arrived quickly to provide first aid and evacuate attendees.

"Based on initial reports we have, the fire was caused by sparks from pyrotechnic devices used for lighting effects during the concert,” Toshkovski said. He added that when triggered, the sparks most likely covered the ceiling, which was made of flammable material. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the entire club in thick smoke, the Interior Minister added. Firefighters and emergency medical teams from neighbouring towns rushed to assist the injured. Interior Ministry helicopters transported the injured to clinics in Skopje.

Toshkovski said that his Ministry is taking all necessary measures to determine the circumstances of the tragedy and hold those responsible accountable.

"We remain on the ground to provide assistance and support to all those affected. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the relatives of the victims of this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families," the Minister said.

Toshkovski added that a few individuals had been arrested and questioned.

MIA reported that the owner of the Pulse night club in Kocani had been arrested, adding that the club's license expires on March 24. 

Footage from the concert shared on social media shows part of the ceiling catching fire while the band was performing. An attempt is made to put out the flames with fire extinguishers, and someone can be heard shouting into the microphone “Get out, guys!”, the local news website Eurolink reported.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski as well as all responsible institutions, including the state prosecutor from the Basic Public Prosecution Office in Kocani, visited the scene.