site.btaNorth Macedonia’s Health Minister Thanks Bulgaria for Solidarity After Kocani Fire

North Macedonia’s Health Minister Arben Taravari Tuesday thanked Bulgaria following a fire that broke out in the early hours of Sunday in the town of Kocani, leaving 59 dead and more than 150 injured. “I would like to thank our neighbour Bulgaria, the Health Ministry, the President and the whole Bulgarian people for this solidarity, which really leaves a strong mark in our country,” Taravari told a news conference at Sofia's Pirogov Emergency Hospital.

Taravari and North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski arrived in Sofia to visit the victims of the nightclub fire in Kocani. 

Earlier in the day, the two visited the injured in two hospitals in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Taravari told journalists at the emergency hospital: "First of all, I would like to thank Bulgaria’s Health Minister, as the tragedy occurred on Sunday, around 3am, and by 8:30am I was already in contact with Minister Silvi Kirilov, who was the first Health Minister to call me. That day, I spoke with some 15 health ministers from the region and other neighbouring and friendly countries. I would also like to thank the President of Bulgaria, who was in regular communication with the President of North Macedonia, and the Bulgarian Prime Minister, who was in constant contact with his counterpart in Skopje. I am also grateful for the condition of the patients at the Pirogov hospital."

North Macedonia's Health Minister visited all nine patients on respiratory support, noting that two have already been extubated, which is a positive sign. When asked about their ages, he said the extubated patients are 15 and 31 years old. According to doctors, two more could be extubated by Wednesday.

Taravari added that 19 more patients are to be transported abroad from North Macedonia on Tuesday, but did not specify in which countries they will be treated.