Fire at North Macedonia Nightclub Kills 59, Sparks Corruption Investigation

The deadly blaze at Club Pulse in Kocani highlights safety violations, overcrowding, and suspected bribery as grieving families demand accountability.

A fire at Club Pulse in Kocani, North Macedonia, killed 59 people and injured over 150, with many victims as young as 15 years old.
Authorities believe pyrotechnics ignited the ceiling during a concert, causing the fire to spread rapidly in the overcrowded venue, which lacked sufficient emergency exits.
Investigators have detained 20 individuals, including the club's manager, and are probing allegations of bribery and corruption tied to the nightclub's illegal operations.
The government has declared a seven-day mourning period and ordered inspections of all nightclubs in the country to prevent similar tragedies.
Neighboring countries, including Bulgaria and Turkey, have stepped in to provide medical care for critically injured victims, many of whom suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation.