North Macedonia has expanded its investigation into the Kocani nightclub fire that killed 61, adding 19 people, including former ministers, to the inquiry.
Interior Minister Pance Toskovski said 45 individuals and three entities are now under investigation for “serious crimes against general safety.”
Detention measures have been proposed for some suspects.
The investigation includes club owners, pyrotechnics users, security, and officials whose omissions allegedly allowed the club to operate unsafely.
Local media report that implicated individuals include three former economy ministers, two ex-state secretaries, and officials from various agencies.
Almost all officials are affiliated with the DUI party, which criticizes the government’s handling of the probe.
The March 16 fire, caused by pyrotechnics, revealed the club’s operation with a false license and safety violations.
