A community is mourning after music fans who attended Pulse Club in North Macedonia on Sunday were killed in a devastating blaze. Survivors have since spoken out about the ordeal
North Macedonia: Fire crews respond to nightclub blaze
A woman who escaped a fire at a nightclub has recalled how her sister was “stomped on” during a mass stampede, whilst another survivor said she “barely stayed alive”.
Music fans who attended a concert at Pulse Club in Kocani, a town in North Macedonia, had to flee to safety after a blaze broke out at the club on Sunday. Partygoers were watching pop duo, DNK, perform when sparks from a pyrotechnics stage display, caused the roof to catch fire.
Sadly, the disaster claimed the lives of 59 people, injuring 155 others, with 22 said to be in critical condition. Survivors of the ordeal have revealed how they were “trampled on” as chaos erupted around them. Marija Taseva, 19, who suffered an injury to her face, said she could “hardly breathe” from the ordeal.
She said: “We even tried to get out through the bathroom, only to find bars on the windows. I somehow managed to get out. I fell down the stairs and they ran over me, trampled me… I barely stayed alive and could hardly breathe.”
Another survivor told Sky News: “The fire broke out suddenly and everyone started running for the exit. There were charred bodies. I don’t know…everyone is stressed.” She recalled how her sister fell over as she tried to get out. “She is injured. Running outside she fell and people stomped over her,” she added.
The director of the Kocani General Hospital, where many fire victims were initially taken, said that most of the injured are aged 14 to 24. Many suffered from burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. Although the investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing, videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting Club Pulse’s ceiling. Shocking footage showed the sparks barely missing the peformers face, as spectators danced around the dangerous display.
North Macedonia’s government has confirmed there will be a three-day inspection carried out across all nightclubs across the country, starting Monday. Authorities say they are also investigating allegations of bribery surrounding the nightclub that was crammed and at double capacity. Interior minister Panche Toshkovski said 15 people had been detained for questioning after a preliminary inspection revealed the club was operating without a proper licence. “We have grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption in this case,” he said.
North Macedonia’s President Gordana Davkova Siljanovska said: “I still cannot believe that the terrible tragedy in Kocani is a reality. I do not know with what words to express my condolences to the parents and loved ones of the deceased. No one responsible should escape the law, justice and punishment. Let us not allow anyone to endanger the lives of innocent people anymore.”