Overview

• Fifty-nine people, mostly young adults, lost their lives in a fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, which was operating with a fraudulent license and severe safety violations.
• The fire, caused by unauthorized pyrotechnics igniting flammable ceiling material, led to a rapid spread and a deadly stampede in the overcrowded venue.
• Authorities have detained 18 individuals, including government officials, and launched inspections uncovering widespread safety violations in other establishments.
• Thousands have gathered in Skopje and Kocani for vigils and protests, expressing grief and anger over systemic corruption and regulatory negligence.
• Funerals for the victims are set for March 20, as the community mourns the preventable loss of young lives and demands meaningful reforms.