A total of 59 peoplemostly young, died this morning in a disco In the Macedonian city of Kocanieast of the Balkan country, for a fire allegedly caused by pyrotechnics used inside the room During a concert.
As reported by the Interior Minister of Macedonia del Norte, Panche Toshkovskiin addition to fatalities there are 155 injuredof which 12 They are hospitalized in critical condition.
The tragedy happened at 03.00 local time (02.00 GMT) at the disco ‘Press’which exists for 12 years, with some 1,500 people Inside the room, in which the well -known local NDK group (DNA, in Spanish) played.
Among the dead is the drummer of the group, GJORGJI GJORGJIEVwhile the singer, Vladimir Blazhev-PanchoHe suffered burns in the face and his hands but is out of danger, according to his relatives.
Macedonia del Norte is a small exyugoslava republic, of 1.8 million inhabitants, located in southeastern Europe, between Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria and Greece, without exit to the sea.
Asphyxiated and burned victims
Many of the victims died suffocated by smoke while others died Burned. According to local media, the director of the Kocani hospital, The youngest victim was 14 years old And the rest of the deceased are mostly people up to 25 years.
Among the deceased is also A police officer Macedonia who was inspecting the nightclub just when the fire happened.
The State Attorney General, Ljupcho KocevskiHe confirmed that the first indications suggest that the fire was caused by pyrotechnic artifacts, but declared that he could not give more details, since they continue the research on the land.
“At the moment, orders are still issued for the collection of evidence and the realization of forensic exams,” said the prosecutor before the press after visiting the set on fire, about 100 kilometers east of the capital.
For now, arrest orders have been issued against four people related to the disco and the concert.
Overflowed hospitals
Dozens of injured were transferred to Skopie clinics, which is located One hour by car from the accident placesince hospitals around Kocani are overwhelmed.
A 20 -year -old girl, who was at the disco last night and who today waited for information about the state of her friends in front of the Skopje hospital, told local media that The fire spread in just two minutes And that everything happened very quickly, since the fire started on the roof.
“They tried which caused a stampery at the exit of the club “the girl said.
“I saw many bodies and hundreds of injured. Can you imagine what it is to go over bodies while looking for your sister? “he said, for his part, the brother of a 16 -year -old girl, hospitalized in a Shtip clinic, south of Kocani.
Seven days of national mourning
The Macedonian government plans to declare tomorrow, Monday, Seven days of national mourning and has ordered detailed inspections of all nightclubs in the country.
Numerous leaders of the east and southeastern Europe today expressed condolences to their Macedonian counterparts, including the president of Ukraine, Volodomir Zelenskithe presidents of Albania, Bulgaria and Sloveniaas well as the prime ministers of Hungary and Greece.
“The government is fully mobilized and will do everything necessary to deal with the consequences and Determine the causes of this tragedy “the Macedonian prime minister wrote, Hristijan Mickoskiin social networks. “It’s a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia! The loss of so many young lives is irreplaceable “added the president.
The Macedonia Football Federation announced that due to the tragedy of Kocani The League Day was suspended this Sunday in all categories of the Balkan country.
