KOCANI, North Macedonia — A massive fire ripped through a packed nightclub in the eastern city of Koçani in the early hours of Sunday, killing at least 50 people and injuring dozens more, local media reported.
Emergency services rushed to the scene as panicked concertgoers tried to flee. Authorities say the fire likely broke out around 3 a.m., reportedly sparked by pyrotechnics used during a live performance attended by roughly 1,500 people.
Survivors describe sheer panic as flames spread rapidly, engulfing parts of the club and blocking exits. “It was chaos. People were screaming and pushing, trying to get out,” said one witness. “Some fell, others got trapped. It was horrible.”
Rescue teams worked through the night, with firefighters battling the blaze and medical crews treating the injured. At least 27 people have been airlifted to the General Hospital “8 September” in Skopje, two of whom remain in critical condition. Others are being treated in hospitals in Koçani and Štip.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of the fire but are investigating reports that pyrotechnics triggered the deadly blaze.
Outside the charred building, worried family members gathered, desperate for information. “I’m looking for my niece. Her phone is ringing, but she isn’t answering,” one woman told local media. “We checked hospitals in Koçani and Štip, and some were transferred to Skopje. We just need answers.”
Officials are expected to provide more details later today as the investigation unfolds.
