A tragic fire occurred at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, on March 16, 2025, resulting in at least 59 fatalities and approximately 155 injuries. The fire began around 2:30 AM local time during a live concert when pyrotechnic devices for lighting effects set fire to highly flammable ceiling materials, causing the flames to quickly spread throughout the venue.
Most of the deceased were young individuals aged 18 to 23, who succumbed to burns, smoke inhalation, and injuries sustained in a stampede as they attempted to escape the burning building. Victims included individuals as young as 14 and 16. Among the casualties were several members of the hip-hop band DNK, including a lead singer.
The nightclub was operating without a proper license and had only one efficient exit, with the back door reportedly locked. This situation led to panic and a deadly crush at the entrance as people attempted to flee. The venue was overcrowded, with at least double its official capacity of 250 people present at the time of the fire.
“This is the most difficult day of my life,” Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said, pledging to tackle the “deeply corrupt system” that has troubled the country for decades.
Authorities have detained between 15 and 20 individuals for questioning, including officials from government ministries that issued the nightclub’s license. The interior minister reported grounds for suspicion of bribery and corruption, as the nightclub’s operating license had been falsified.
Among those taken into custody are a Ministry of the Economy employee, the former secretary of state at the Ministry of Economy, and a senior official from the ministry. The region’s former director for protection and rescue and three other employees of that institution are also under investigation.
The North Macedonian government declared seven days of national mourning in response to the incident, which ranks among the deadliest nightclub fires in at least a decade. Similar incidents in Romania in 2015 and Brazil in 2013 were also attributed to pyrotechnics.
The President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, stated that “no business can function without proper standards and rules to protect innocent lives.”
Injured victims are receiving treatment in hospitals nationwide, with numerous individuals suffering from second-degree burns. Approximately 27 of the most seriously injured are being treated in specialized clinics in neighboring countries, with some transported to Greece for advanced care.
European leaders and officials have conveyed their condolences to North Macedonia, and Israel has offered medical assistance to aid the injured. The tragedy has profoundly impacted the small Balkan country, with the prime minister describing the loss of so many young lives as “irreparable.”
The single-story structure housing the nightclub partially collapsed during the fire, complicating rescue efforts. Videos from the scene depict the building engulfed in flames and thick smoke as emergency services worked to contain the fire and provide aid to the injured.
In response to the incident, the government plans to conduct emergency inspections of all nightclubs and restaurant venues hosting parties across the country to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The fire has sent shockwaves throughout North Macedonia and the international community, with condolences and offers of assistance pouring in from leaders worldwide. The small town of Kocani, where the nightclub was located, has been particularly affected by the loss of so many young residents.