North Macedonia is observing seven days of national mourning following a devastating fire at an improvised nightclub that claimed multiple lives. The tragic incident, which occurred at the Pulse club, located in the early hours of Sunday, has left the nation grief-stricken. The government has announced plans for an emergency session to investigate the incident thoroughly. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova has called for accountability, emphasizing the need for justice.
The fire broke out around 02:30 local time when sparks from pyrotechnic devices ignited the highly flammable ceiling material. The Pulse club, which did not have a legal license to operate, has been described by local media as an "improvised nightclub." The police have detained 15 individuals in connection with the incident. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski has suggested potential bribery and corruption links, citing inspections that revealed several abnormalities, including deficiencies in the fire-extinguishing and lighting systems.
Dragi Stojanov, who tragically lost his only child in the fire, expressed his profound grief.
"I had one child and I lost him," said Dragi Stojanov.
His sentiments echo the anger and frustration felt by many in the community as they seek answers and justice for the tragedy that has devastated families.
The Kocani hospital is currently treating those injured in the fire, with Kristina Serafimovska at the helm of the medical team. The situation remains dire as families await news of their loved ones. Red Cross volunteer Mustafa Saidov described the heartbreaking scenes inside the identification area.
"Inside where they are identifying the victims, the situation is far worse. You see that the parents are also quite young people, in their 40s. Their children are 18 or 20 years old," Mustafa Saidov stated.
President Siljanovska-Davkova emphasized the importance of accountability and justice following the tragedy.
"None of the responsible this time should avoid the law, the justice and punishment too," she asserted.
Her words reflect a national sentiment calling for stringent measures to ensure such incidents do not recur.
The government’s emergency session will focus on uncovering the specifics of what went wrong and establishing measures to prevent future tragedies. Investigations will delve into possible regulatory failures and whether any legal breaches contributed to the disaster.
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