Disturbing details revealed in the Macedonian nightclub fire that killed 59, and injured more than 155

Shocking allegations have emerged about the nightclub blaze that claimed dozens of lives, with the youngest victim aged just 14.

The nightclub in North Macedonia where a deadly fire broke out and killed 59 people reportedly had its fire exit padlocked and walled up, with no handle on the inside, according to the prosecutor.

At least 155 injured people had been taken to hospitals across the country, 18 of them in critical condition. Some of the more serious cases were to be taken to hospitals in other European countries, the country’s Crisis Centre said.

The blaze started in the Club Pulse in the eastern town of Kocani as the place was packed with more than 1000 mostly young fans attending a concert by a popular hip-hop duo called DNK.

Relatives of the victims wait for news outside Kocani General Hospital, North Macedonia. At least 59 people have died after a fire broke out overnight at the Pulse Club. Picture: Ferdi Limani/Getty Images

As investigations into the deadly blaze continue, State Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski has revealed shocking details about the nightclub’s lack of fire safety measures, according to PlusInfo.

Mr Kocevski stated that the club was covered in flammable materials, lacked a hydrant network, and had a severe shortage of fire extinguishers.

The only exit at the back of the building was an improvised metal door, padlocked with no handle on the inside. The building also lacked a door braking system and a fire alarm with a loud sound signal.

Additionally, the club was lined with illegal soundproofing and decorative materials that were highly flammable. There was also no access for emergency services from either side of the building, violating the country’s Fire Protection Regulation.

An aerial photograph shows the damaged roof of a nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia. Picture: Armin Durgut

Officials confirmed the youngest victim was a 14-year-old with the oldest being aged 24. It is understood no Australians have been involved in the nightclub tragedy.

“The fire started around 2:30 am (0130 GMT), the sparklers that were on stage ignited the styrofoam on the ceiling. I heard an explosion and the roof collapsed,” one young person who was inside for the concert told local media.

Family members surround one of the victims at the garden of Kocani General Hospital while her sister remains missing. Picture: Getty Images

An unnamed survivor also spoke about the horror as she detailed how she was forced to push through charred bodies to save herself as the flames tore through the old warehouse.

She suffered injuries to her ear and knee, while her sister is still missing.

“The fire broke out suddenly and everyone started running for the exit,” she told Sky News. “There were charred bodies. I don’t know… everyone is stressed.”

A woman cries outside a hospital. Picture: Visar Kryeziu

She added that she and her family have been “unable to find” her sibling in any of the hospitals.

“She is injured. Running outside she fell and people stomped over her,” she told reporters.

A father also spoke about losing his only son in the deadly incident.

Dragi Stojanov’s son Tomce, 21, was among the crowd inside and has since been identified as one of the victims who died.

Mr Stojanov told reporters at the scene: “It’s my only child and he died. What is left for me in life? I don’t need my life anymore.”

Asked for his age, he said his son had “only [just] started to live”.

Relatives of the victims wait for news at the garden of Kocani General Hospital on March 16, 2025 in Kocani, North Macedonia. Picture: Ferdi Limani/Getty Images

He described the victims as “children… burnt, beyond recognition”.

“There are corpses, just corpses inside. They can’t pull them out. 150 families are devastated.”

The fire was probably caused by pyrotechnic devices “used for light effects at the concert,” said Interior Minister Pance Toskovski, who visited the scene with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.

Debris lies on the pavement outside the burnt down nightclub in which revellers died, in Kocani, Macedonia. Picture: AFP

“Sparks caught the ceiling, which was made of easily flammable material, after which the fire rapidly spread across the whole discotheque, creating thick smoke,” Mr Toskovski said.

The interior ministry announced so far have 20 suspects, including around 15 people in the police station, some who died in the blaze or have been hospitalised.

This aerial photograph shows a view of the burnt down nightclub in which revellers died, in Kocani, a town some 100 kilometres east of the capital Skopje, that has killed 59. Picture: AFP

The head of the Kocani hospital, Kristina Serafimovska, told media that “most of the dead unfortunately suffered injuries from the stampede that occurred in the panic while trying to exit”.

“Seventy of the patients have burns and carbon monoxide poisoning,” she said.

One of the members of the DNK duo that had performed, Vladimir Blazev, had burns to his face and needed assistance breathing, his sister told local media outlets.

A massive fire in a nightclub in North Macedonia's southern town of Kocani. Picture: Social media

Footage posted on social media shows the building engulfed in flames. Helicopters ferried some of the wounded to the capital Skope’s hospitals.

“This is a difficult and very sad day” for the country, Prime Minister Mickoski wrote on his Facebook account.

“The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the grief of their families, their loved ones and their friends is immeasurable.” The government said it had scheduled a session for later Sunday in which a seven-day mourning period would be proclaimed.

“A decision will also be made on an urgent and extraordinary inspection of all nightclubs, discotheques and restaurants that organise parties,” the government said in a statement.

Relatives and survivors walk outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia. Picture: Visar Kryeziu

Rescue workers stand in front of a club after massive fire broke out early Sunday in Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. Picture: Kocani TV via AP

More than 1000 people crammed into the venue to see popular local hip-hop duo DNK.

Pope Francis sent prayers to the victims and survivors and wished “the families of the dead, mostly young people, the expression of his deep condolence,” the Vatican said in a message addressed to the bishop of Skopje, Kiro Stojanov.

Videos posted on social networks and shot before the fire showed there were “stage fountains” set up - a type of indoor fireworks used during performances.

Other videos published by media showed huge flames emerging from the building, a two-storey white structure in Kocani, a town with 30,000 residents.

Rescue workers stand in front of a club after massive fire broke out early Sunday in Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. Picture: Kocani TV via AP

Witnesses have told media that many were killed during a stampede as concert-goers ran for their lives.

As the day unfolded, the leaders of neighbouring countries Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia sent condolences and dispatched various forms support.

There were also messages from parts of the European Union, which North Macedonia has ambitions to join.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said on X that she was “deeply saddened about the tragic fire” and that “the EU shares the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia”.

Originally published as Disturbing details revealed in the Macedonian nightclub fire that killed 59, and injured more than 155