Deadly nightclub fire kills 59, injures over 100 in North Macedonia
Rescue workers stand in front of fire-devastated nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, on March 16, 2025. (Photo via Kocani TV)
A devastating fire swept through a nightclub in North Macedonia early Sunday, killing 59 and injuring more than 100 others who were attending a hip-hop concert, according to the country’s interior ministry.
The blaze erupted around 3 a.m. local time (2 a.m. GMT) at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, a town about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Skopje, the capital. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski confirmed the death toll after visiting the scene.
“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,” Toskovski said.
The fire broke out during a performance by ADN, a popular hip-hop duo in North Macedonia. Reports suggest as many as 1,500 people may have been at the venue for the concert.
Local media indicated the blaze might have been triggered by pyrotechnic devices used during the performance. Social media footage appears to show sparks from the stage igniting the ceiling before flames rapidly spread throughout the structure.
Videos posted online captured the nightclub engulfed in flames with thick smoke billowing into the night sky. Firefighters were still battling the blaze hours after it started.
This incident ranks among the deadliest nightclub fires in recent European history, with rescue operations continuing as authorities work to account for all attendees.
