“I Had One Child, and I Lost Him” – North Macedonia Mourns Nightclub Tragedy

A devastating nightclub disaster in North Macedonia leaves families in grief, as the nation mourns the tragic loss of young lives.

Marija Taseva was having a night out with her sister at the Pulse club in Kocani, North Macedonia, on Saturday when tragedy occurred.

While watching DNK, a popular hip-hop duo in the country, they experienced a fire that broke out and tragically resulted in at least 59 deaths and injuries to 155 people.

The 19-year-old told Reuters that everyone began screaming and shouting, “get out, get out!”

Desperate to flee the flames, people struggled to find an exit. Unfortunately, out of approximately 500 individuals present, only one accessible route was available since the other door at the back of the venue remained locked.

“I have no idea how it happened, but I found myself on the ground and unable to get up. At that moment, people began stomping on me,” Ms Taseva said.

She eventually made it to safety, but her sister did not.

“My sister passed away. I survived, but she did not.”

Police have detained 15 individuals, and Interior Minister Pance Toskovski has stated that there are “grounds for suspicion of bribery and corruption” connected to the fire.

The fire ignited at approximately 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) on Sunday when sparks from pyrotechnic devices struck the ceiling, which was constructed of highly flammable material, according to Toskovski.

According to Toskovski, the venue, which is situated in a town about 100km (60 miles) east of Skopje and referred to as an “improvised nightclub” by local media, was operating without a legal license.

It was formerly a carpet warehouse, and the police are conducting an investigation.

“The majority of fatalities were due to injuries sustained during the stampede that happened as people panicked while attempting to leave,” reported Kristina Serafimovska, the head of Kocani Hospital.

According to AFP news agency, she stated that seventy of the patients are suffering from burns and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Vladislav Gruev, an expert in reconstructive and plastic surgery at the University Clinic for Surgical Diseases, has been providing care to survivors.

He stated that the majority have severe burn injuries, with over 18% of their body surface area affected. These include second and third degree burns on the head, neck, upper torso, as well as hands and fingers in the upper limbs.

According to Biljana Arsovska, a spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office, inspections conducted on Sunday revealed several “abnormalities” at the venue. These included “deficiencies” in both the fire-extinguishing and lighting systems.

Speaking outside the hospital, Mustafa Saidov, a Red Cross volunteer, mentioned that most of those who lost their lives were young people.

Inside the area where victims are being identified, the situation is even more distressing. The parents themselves are relatively young, in their 40s, and their children are only 18 or 20 years old.

The situation is harsh and chaotic, with heartbreaking stories and the tragic loss of many young lives.

A man, whose nephew was injured in the fire, mentioned that some people have been unable to find their children.

Many people are filled with anger and seeking answers, including Dragi Stojanov, who lost his only child in the fire.

“Let me say this publicly and on camera: I’m a dead man; I’ve lost everything. The entire continent of Europe should be aware,” he told reporters.

After this tragedy, I find myself questioning the purpose of my life. It feels like I don’t need it anymore.

I once had a child, but sadly, he passed away.

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova of North Macedonia emphasized the necessity for accountability regarding the events that transpired.

“None of those responsible should escape the law, justice, or punishment this time,” she said.

There is nothing more valuable than human life, especially that of the young.

She added that the most severely injured were being transported to specialized clinics in Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey for treatment.

The government has announced a seven-day period of national mourning and will conduct an emergency session to further investigate how the incident occurred.