North Macedonia Mourns Nightclub Fire Victims Amidst Growing Anger
Balkans Correspondent
Solemn funerals were held across North Macedonia for the numerous individuals who perished in a nightclub fire on Sunday.
The devastating blaze swept through the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, resulting in 59 fatalities and causing injuries to many more.
Authorities state the club had illicitly acquired its operating license and lacked essential safety measures such as sprinklers. The venue, a converted carpet warehouse, had its single emergency exit locked at the time of the incident.
Over 20 individuals, including government officials, law enforcement officers, and the club manager, have been detained as public anger escalates.
Mass Funerals Held for Nightclub Fire Victims
Funeral services took place nationwide on Thursday for those who died in the Kocani nightclub fire.
The funeral procession in Kocani was extensive and somber. This small town, with a population under 30,000, experienced the profound loss of many young residents in the tragic nightclub incident.
Numerous mourners carried photographs of their deceased loved ones. Some younger individuals attempted to conceal their tears behind sunglasses, while others openly wept as they grieved the nightclub tragedy.
The deceased were interred adjacently in Kocani’s cemetery. An Orthodox Church service was scheduled to follow, offering solace to the bereaved families.
Skopje Pays Respects to Musician
In Skopje, approximately 1,000 individuals congregated for the funeral of Andrej Gorgieski, the 43-year-old vocalist of the band DNK, who was performing at the club when the fire erupted.
Public Outrage over Safety Lapses and Alleged Corruption
While mourning was the focus of the day, growing public anger is evident regarding the allegedly corrupt practices that permitted the Pulse nightclub to operate despite safety concerns, prompting widespread corruption protests.
Demonstrations against corruption have occurred across the nation throughout the week, reflecting public discontent over the nightclub fire incident and its underlying causes.
Protests Erupt in Kocani
On Monday, some Kocani residents vandalized a pub reportedly also run by the Pulse nightclub owner. Others engaged in acts of vandalism, throwing stones and shattering windows at the mayor’s office on the same evening, showcasing the depth of public anger following the deadly nightclub fire.
Investigation and Aftermath
The widespread grief and public outrage have spurred government-led inspections of cafes and nightclubs throughout North Macedonia to identify potential safety violations in the wake of the Kocani tragedy.
Investigators have formally identified all 59 victims of the blaze, most of whom were young individuals and teenagers who tragically lost their lives in the North Macedonia fire.
Details of the Deadly Blaze
The fatal fire commenced at approximately 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) on Sunday, rapidly spreading due to the flammable ceiling material, as stated by Interior Minister Pance Toskovski earlier this week regarding the nightclub fire in North Macedonia.
He indicated that around 500 individuals were inside the venue at the time, significantly exceeding the 250 tickets reportedly sold, suggesting “grounds for suspicion of bribery and corruption” connected to the fire and potential safety breaches at the Pulse nightclub.
More than 160 individuals sustained injuries in the fire, with 45 suffering critical injuries. Many were airlifted to hospitals in neighboring Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey to receive specialist treatment and critical care following the North Macedonia nightclub disaster.