North Macedonia appeals for calm as nightclub fire deaths trigger protests

The blaze killed 59 people and injured more than 150 over the weekend, sparking outrage over alleged corruption and safety violations.

North Macedonia Nightclub Fire — People argue with policemen outside the home of the owner of a nightclub that was the scene of a massive fire, after a vigil for the victims in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia (Armin Durgut/AP)

Authorities in North Macedonia are appealing for calm as student groups called for fresh protests after the nightclub fire that killed 59 people and injured more than 150 over the weekend.

The disaster, which occurred early on Sunday at Club Pulse in the eastern town of Kocani after pyrotechnics were used during a concert there, has sparked outrage over alleged corruption and safety violations.

Demonstrations took place on Monday in both Kocani and the capital, Skopje, with some turning violent as protesters in Kocani overturned a van and hurled rocks at a building.

“We must call once again for reason,” interior minister Panche Toshkovski said in an interview with private Sitel television late on Monday.

“We must allow the prosecuting authorities to do their job so that in the end we can finally normalise the state.”

Investigations have revealed that the club was operating at at least double its 250-person capacity without proper licensing.

Officials say there were numerous safety violations including no emergency exits, insufficient fire equipment, the use of flammable cladding and no sprinkler system.

Many victims were trampled as panicked concertgoers rushed towards a single exit.

Neighbouring Serbia and Bulgaria, which immediately offered assistance following the tragedy, are observing a day of national mourning on Tuesday in solidarity with North Macedonia.

Medical specialists from the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Israel have arrived to support treatment efforts for the injured, Health Ministry official said.

And the European Union is helping transport burn victims to nearby countries.

Around 50 patients are being treated in mostly neighbouring and nearby countries, the majority of them with serious burns.

The disaster has intensified scrutiny of corruption in North Macedonia, which the EU has previously identified as a major obstacle to the country’s accession to the bloc.

Authorities are investigating allegations that club owners bribed officials to bypass safety regulations.

The government has ordered nationwide inspections of all nightclubs and other entertainment venues.