North Macedonia nightclub fire kills 51, injures more than 100

Fifty-one people were killed and more than 100 injured when a fire broke out in a nightclub in North Macedonia.

The fire at the Pulse nightclub that claimed the lives of 51 people.

Fifty-one people were killed and more than 100 injured when a fire broke out in a nightclub in North Macedonia.

The blaze began around 2.35am on Sunday at the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kocani.

Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said pyrotechnics being used during a concert by a local pop group, called DNA, set the ceiling alight.

More than 80 of those injured were taken to hospitals in Skopje, the country’s capital city, as Justice Minister Igor Filkov said that those involved in the tragedy would be held responsible.

Videos showed chaos inside the nightclub, with young people running through the smoke as the musicians urged people to escape as quickly as possible.

“This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of the families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable,” North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, said.

“The people and the government will do everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate their pain and help them in these most difficult moments.”

Family members gathered at hospitals and Kocani’s city offices, begging authorities for more information.

Mr Toshkovski said police had arrested one man, but didn’t provide details on the person’s involvement.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic fire in Kocani, North Macedonia, which claimed lives of too many young people,” Marta Kos, the European commissioner for enlargement, wrote in a post on social media. “My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and the whole of North Macedonia.”

North Macedonia is a candidate for EU membership.

AP