**After a disastrous nightclub fire in Kocani claiming 59 lives, citizens rally against corruption and inadequate safety measures, spurring national outrage.**
**Public Outcry in North Macedonia Following Tragic Nightclub Fire**
**Public Outcry in North Macedonia Following Tragic Nightclub Fire**
**Nation enters mourning as protests demand accountability and reforms**
In the wake of a devastating fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, which resulted in the deaths of at least 59 individuals, primarily teenagers, North Macedonia is engulfed in a wave of protests. Thousands have taken to the streets to express their grief and demand justice, accusing the authorities of turning a blind eye to corruption that permitted unsafe conditions in venues.
On the night of the incident, the club was filled with revelers enjoying a performance by the popular hip-hop group DNK when a spark from flares ignited a flammable ceiling, leading to a rapid spread of fire throughout the venue. Response efforts were hampered by the overcrowded space, which housed nearly double the capacity of 250 attendees due to a lack of enforcement of safety regulations.
At the protests, moving testimonials surfaced. A local teenager lamented, "Nobody should die like that – nobody," echoing the sentiments of many who mourned the young lives lost too soon. Over 160 individuals sustained injuries, prompting the need for further medical assistance in neighboring countries like Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey.
In response to public outcry, authorities have detained around 20 people, including the nightclub proprietor and some ex-government officials, amid allegations of bribery linked to the club's questionable operational standards. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski noted that illegal licensing and inadequate emergency measures, including a locked exit and minimal firefighting resources, were pivotal factors in the tragedy.
As citizens demanded accountability, a group of protesters expressed their anger by targeting a nearby bar reportedly connected to the nightclub's owner, smashing windows in a desperate show of frustration. Meanwhile, public gatherings are anticipated in cities across the nation as civic organizations call for continued demonstrations against systemic failures in safety regulation.
"This should never happen again," declared a grieving uncle at the rally, underscoring the urgent need for legislative reform and community safety. North Macedonia now embarks on a week of reflection and mourning as families await answers and justice for their loved ones lost in this catastrophe.
