North Macedonia. Disco fire. Dozens of people are dead

A fire in the club in Koczani in the east of Northern Macedonia took place around 3 hours during the concert of the Macedonian hip-hop band. The authorities reported that at that time about 500 people stayed in the club.

On social media published on social media, there are flames appearing during the performance. When the fire enveloped the ceiling, panic broke out, as a result of which many people were injured.

The tragedy was most likely led to the inappropriate use of pyrotechnics – Macedonian media said.

According to recent information – which the interior minister of North Macedonia Tosze Toszkowski provided at the conference on Sunday afternoon – at least 59 people were killed and 155 were injured.

The authorities of the hospital in Koczani stated that the youngest of the fatalities was 14 years old, and the oldest – 24.

The Macedonian Ministry of Health announced that the state of 18 wounded is critical. All injured went to several hospitals across the country. According to Macedonian television, Kanal 5 among the wounded are minors. About 30 wounded – according to the authorities of the institution – went to the hospital in Koczany, before which a crowd of relatives of people participating in the concert gathered. Families published photos of 16 people on Facebook, who are considered missing.

Stojancze Angelow, director of the Macedonian Crisis Management Center, announced that some of the wounded would be transported to “the best hospitals in several European countries” that offered support after a tragic fire. He also assured that the state had sufficient blood resources to save their lives and currently there is no need to give it away.

The local fire department informed in his social media that the fire occurred around 3am. “Firefighters from all nearby cities and towns participated in the firefighting action,” added. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski came to the scene of the interior minister.

Radio Koczani called the tragedy “the largest in the history of the city.” The government in Skopje announced a weekly national mourning on Sunday.

According to preliminary information, the inadequate use of pyrotechnics could lead to the tragedy – said Kurir.

The Macedonian Ministry of Interior announced that it had stopped all people associated with the tragedy. Both they and the witnesses of the event are questioned. The Northern Macedonia Prosecutor's Office assured that she would transfer all necessary means to examine the circumstances of the tragedy to Koczani to Koczani.

The investigation has so far covered over 20 suspects, including two members of the team, who performed when the tragedy, son of the owner of the Night Club, director of the facility managing company and security members – explained Toszkowski. He added that among the 15 people who had already been sent to the detention center, there were former officials of the Macedonian Ministry of Economy, and several other suspects are in hospitals or died in a fire.

The interrogation was called, among others Minister of Economy in the previous government of Kreshnik Bekteshi.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated on Sunday that Razmen Chekieć Durović, the Secretary of State in the ministry led by Bekteshi, signed a false license to allow the club's activities. Czekić Durović went to detention on Sunday.

Minister Toszkowski pointed out that the matter – “like many other problems in North Macedonia” – is associated with corruption. The Macedonian portal Kurir announced that a bribe of EUR 7,000 was paid for the license for running the club.

Prime Minister Mickoski assured that “in the coming days the government will take a number of actions and decisions on behalf of all victims of the tragedy and their families that will be of great importance in the fight for the future of the country.”