Turkish aircraft evacuates 3 more victims from North Macedonia nightclub fire
Medical personnel prepare to load seriously injured patients onto a Turkish air ambulance at Skopje International Airport, North Macedonia on March 20, 2025. (AA Photo)
An ambulance aircraft from Türkiye’s Ministry of Health departed for Istanbul carrying three severely injured victims from a nightclub fire in Kochani, eastern North Macedonia.
The medical evacuation flight arrived in Skopje before transporting the patients to Türkiye, where they will receive treatment at Istanbul’s Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje, Fatih Ulusoy, was present at Skopje International Airport during the transfer operation.
This marks the latest in a series of medical evacuations following the March 16 disaster, when pyrotechnic materials caused a fire at a Kochani nightclub around 3:00 a.m. local time. The blaze killed 59 people and injured more than 170 others.
Nine injured victims had previously been transported to Istanbul and Ankara aboard Turkish ambulance aircraft for specialized medical care.
Investigations following the tragedy revealed the nightclub was operating without a license. Authorities have launched an investigation into 26 individuals, including former Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi.
The North Macedonian government declared seven days of national mourning after the incident. Ljupco Papazov, the mayor of Kochani, has since resigned from his position.
The eastern city is located approximately 100 kilometres (62.1 miles) from the capital, Skopje.
