- Entrou
- Out 5, 2021
- Mensagens
- 49,872
- Gostos Recebidos
- 1,378
North Macedonia nightclub blaze 'caused by fireworks' as at least 51 killed 100 injured
A huge fire that killed 51 gig goers at a North Macedonian nightclub is believed to have been caused by pyrotechnics being used in the crowd, the country's interior minister said
A huge blaze that killed 51 people during a concert at a nightclub may have been caused by fireworks being set off, it is believed.
North Macedonia's interior minister Panche Toshkovski said pyrotechnics had been "used for light effect" that caused the roof to catch fire, sparking the fatal blaze at Club Pulse in Kocani.
He said: “At the moment of activating the so-called sprinklers, the sparks caught the ceiling that was made of easily flammable material after which for a very short period of time the fire spread across the whole discotheque, creating a thick smoke."
More than 100 others were injured in the incident and the wounded were taken either to the local hospital in or to Štip, about 20 miles south.
Videos showed sparks from the stage catching on the ceiling before rapidly spreading while pictures show the building engulfed in flames.
Further footage showed chaos inside the nightclub, with young people running through the smoke as the musicians urged people to escape as quickly as possible.
It is feared some of the deaths were caused by a 'stampede' as revellers desperately ran for their lives.
Speaking after visiting the scene, Toshkovski said: “According to the data we have by now, 51 persons lost their lives, and more than 100 persons are injured and transported in the hospitals in Stip, Kocani and Skopje."
Toshkovski police have arrested one man, but didn’t provide details on the person’s involvement. Local media previously reported police sources said organisers had been held by police.
The county's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said in a statement: "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.
"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 have gathered in front of hospitals and Kocani's city offices begging authorities for more information.
Emergency services rushed to the club in the small town in the east of the country with a population of just under 25,000, after the blaze began at around 3am local time.
The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on social media: "Deeply saddened about the tragic fire, which claimed too many young lives in Kocani.
"My condolences to all those affected by this tragedy. I wish a swift recovery to the injured. The EU shares the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia."
Daily Star Sunday
A huge fire that killed 51 gig goers at a North Macedonian nightclub is believed to have been caused by pyrotechnics being used in the crowd, the country's interior minister said
A huge blaze that killed 51 people during a concert at a nightclub may have been caused by fireworks being set off, it is believed.
North Macedonia's interior minister Panche Toshkovski said pyrotechnics had been "used for light effect" that caused the roof to catch fire, sparking the fatal blaze at Club Pulse in Kocani.
He said: “At the moment of activating the so-called sprinklers, the sparks caught the ceiling that was made of easily flammable material after which for a very short period of time the fire spread across the whole discotheque, creating a thick smoke."
More than 100 others were injured in the incident and the wounded were taken either to the local hospital in or to Štip, about 20 miles south.
Videos showed sparks from the stage catching on the ceiling before rapidly spreading while pictures show the building engulfed in flames.
Further footage showed chaos inside the nightclub, with young people running through the smoke as the musicians urged people to escape as quickly as possible.
It is feared some of the deaths were caused by a 'stampede' as revellers desperately ran for their lives.
Speaking after visiting the scene, Toshkovski said: “According to the data we have by now, 51 persons lost their lives, and more than 100 persons are injured and transported in the hospitals in Stip, Kocani and Skopje."
Toshkovski police have arrested one man, but didn’t provide details on the person’s involvement. Local media previously reported police sources said organisers had been held by police.
The county's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said in a statement: "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.
"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 have gathered in front of hospitals and Kocani's city offices begging authorities for more information.
Emergency services rushed to the club in the small town in the east of the country with a population of just under 25,000, after the blaze began at around 3am local time.
The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on social media: "Deeply saddened about the tragic fire, which claimed too many young lives in Kocani.
"My condolences to all those affected by this tragedy. I wish a swift recovery to the injured. The EU shares the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia."
Daily Star Sunday