Terrifying photographs have captured the devastating scenes that took place at Club Pulse in North Macedonia on Sunday, after 59 people were killed in a fire at a concert
Harrowing images show the before and after of a nightmare blaze which erupted at a nightclub, killing 59 people and injuring more than 150 others.
Pictures have revealed the extent of damage caused from the catastophic fire which happened at Club Pulse in the southern town of Kocani in North Macedonia. Concertgoers began fleeing for their lives after the ceiling caught fire during the event in the early hours of Sunday. The concert, which featured pop duo DNK, attracted more than one thousand attendees to the venue. But the night soon turned into a disaster after pyrotechnics were used on the stage.
Pictures have revealed just how close the fireworks were positioned next to the musicians. In one video, partygoers could be seen dancing close to the dangerous display. Fire crews rushed to the scene and sucessfully put out the blaze. Sadly, almost 60 lives were claimed, with 155 people reported to have suffered from injuries. According to the Health Ministry, seventy of those injured have endured burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. Out of the 18 people who have been hospitalised, 18 of them remain in critical condition.
North Macedonia nightclub fire: Moment fireworks spark horror blaze before roof erupts and kills 51
A huge emergency response was also pictured, including medical units from the Macedonian army. Officials said the injured have been taken to hospitals around the country, including the capital Skopje, many with severe burns. “All our capabilities have been put to use in a maximum effort to save as many lives as possible of the young people involved in this tragedy,” Health minister Arben Taravari earlier told reporters.
Heartbreaking images showed families standing at the scene as they waited for the police to give them more answers about the survivors. Dragi Stojanov, the father of one of victims, paid tribute to his 21-year-old son, Tomce, who died in the blaze. “After this catastrophe, what is life to me? I don’t need it. I had one child and I’ve lost him,” he told Al Jazeera. He also told the media: “One hundred and fifty families have been devastated.”
Other pictures captured the aftermath of the fire, which included the building, still standing on the block, with a charred roof. Officials earlier confirmed that one man has been arrested in connection with the incident. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski addressed the tragedy and said: “The most important thing is to find out all the facts and evidence necessary for the follow-up measures. We must remain calm while taking all these steps so that something like this doesn’t happen again.”