For 19-year-old Marija Taseva and her sister, the night was supposed to be unforgettable, a chance to see their favorite hip-hop band DNK perform live in the North Macedonian town of Kocani. The concert at Pulse nightclub was supposed to be a celebration, a night of music, energy, and joy.
Instead, it turned into a tragedy that would leave Marija Taseva without her sister, along with 58 others who lost their lives in the devastating fire that engulfed the venue in the early hours of Sunday morning. What should have been a night of excitement became a scene of horror, with flames, smoke, and panic consuming the nightclub, trapping many inside.
A Night of Celebration Turns Into a Nightmare
Marija Taseva, who miraculously survived the disaster, recalls the moment the fire broke out. “Everyone started screaming and shouting: ‘Get out, get out!’ I don’t know how, but I ended up on the ground.
I couldn’t get up, and at that moment people started stomping on me,” she said. The panic was overwhelming, as hundreds of people rushed toward the club’s only exit, trying desperately to escape the inferno.
According to initial reports, the fire started when pyrotechnics used during the performance ignited the ceiling, quickly spreading flames throughout the packed nightclub.
The venue, which had only one exit, became a death trap for many inside. With smoke filling the air and flames collapsing parts of the structure, people suffocated, burned, or were trampled in the chaos. Those who managed to escape, like Marija, were left traumatized, with many suffering severe injuries from burns and smoke inhalation.
Read : Fire at Pulse Nightclub in North Macedonia Killed 51
Marija suffered minor injuries to her face and body, but the emotional scars of that night will remain with her forever. “It’s terrible. My sister died. I was saved, and she wasn’t,” she said, tears streaming down her face as she sat outside the hospital. Her words echoed the pain of dozens of other families who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
Investigation Uncovers Shocking Violations
As the news of the fire spread, authorities quickly launched an investigation into what caused the disaster and why so many people were unable to escape. State prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski revealed a disturbing number of safety violations at the nightclub. “The omissions are significant. I can confidently say that this is a failure of the system,” he stated.
Among the safety lapses were the lack of emergency exits, insufficient fire extinguishers, improper access for emergency vehicles, and the use of flammable materials inside the club. The absence of fire alarms and an overhead extinguisher system meant that the fire spread rapidly before anyone could react.
At least 59 people have been killed and more than 155 injured in a nightclub fire in North Macedonia. The blaze broke out in the early hours of Sunday at the Pulse club where 1,500 people were attending a concert by DNK, a popular hip-hop duo. Marija Taseva and her sister were… pic.twitter.com/tc40p9aknF
— BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice) March 17, 2025
Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed that the nightclub had been operating without a proper license and that the number of people inside the club far exceeded its official capacity of 250.
“We have grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption in this case,” he said, suggesting that officials may have turned a blind eye to the violations in exchange for bribes.
The government responded by ordering a three-day inspection of all nightclubs and cabarets across North Macedonia, vowing to crack down on safety violations to prevent similar tragedies in the future. So far, about 20 people have been questioned, and proceedings have begun against 11 individuals, including three people who remain hospitalized.
Families Demand Justice for the Victims
Outside the hospital in Kocani, families of the victims gathered, demanding answers and justice for their loved ones. Among them was Tomco Stojanov, whose 25-year-old son, Andrej, lost his life in the fire.
Holding a photograph of his son dressed in a suit jacket, Tomco described how Andrej had died trying to save others. “He died while returning and entering to save other people. And he was pushed, run over. That’s how my son died,” he said, his voice breaking with grief.
The death toll from the fire could still rise, as many of the injured remain in critical condition. Some victims have been transported to hospitals in Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria for specialized treatment.
The director of Pirogov Hospital in Sofia, Bulgaria, where several victims were taken, said that many had suffered severe burns to their respiratory tracts, making their chances of survival uncertain. Among the injured are three children under the age of 18.
The international community has also responded to the tragedy. Pope Francis sent his “profound condolences” and prayers for the victims, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her sympathies on social media, writing, “I grieve the tragic loss of life in the fire in Kocani.”
For the grieving families, however, condolences are not enough. Dragi Stojanov, who lost his 21-year-old son Tomche, stood outside the hospital, his face filled with anguish. “Let me tell you in front of everybody, film me. I am a dead man. I lost everything,” he said, calling for the world to take notice of the disaster that had shattered so many lives.
The tragedy at Pulse nightclub has left a deep scar on the town of Kocani and the entire nation of North Macedonia. The pain of the victims’ families is immeasurable, and the unanswered questions about corruption and negligence make their grief even harder to bear.
As investigations continue and authorities vow to hold those responsible accountable, the people of Kocani are left to mourn the lives lost and demand that such a catastrophe never happens again.