FireWatch: World Updates, April 2025

A devastating fire swept through an overcrowded nightclub in North Macedonia early Sunday, claiming the lives of 59 people and injuring 155 others as panic erupted during a live concert. The incident has drawn national scrutiny toward corruption within the small Balkan nation, with authorities detaining 15 individuals in connection with the tragedy.

Health Minister Arben Taravari warned that the death toll could rise, noting that 20 of the injured remain in critical condition. In response, the government has declared a seven-day period of national mourning. The fire broke out before dawn in the eastern town of Kocani, where many of the victims—predominantly young people—suffered from severe burns, smoke inhalation, and injuries caused by a stampede toward the nightclub's only exit.

Footage captured pyrotechnics on stage igniting the ceiling, followed by chaotic scenes as the crowd struggled to flee. Musicians urged people to escape as the venue filled with smoke. Marija Taseva, 19, who had been attending a local pop concert at Club Pulse, recounted the terrifying moments: “We even tried to get out through the bathroom, only to find bars on the windows,” she told The Associated Press. “I somehow got out. I fell down the stairs and got trampled... I barely made it out alive and could hardly breathe.” Taseva sustained facial injuries in the chaos.

The blaze caused part of the roof of the single-story structure to collapse, exposing charred beams and debris. Police secured the area and launched a joint investigation with state prosecutors. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said 15 people were being held for questioning, revealing that the club lacked the necessary operating license. He also stated that the venue was at least twice over its permitted capacity of 250 people. “We have reason to suspect bribery and corruption in this case,” Toshkovski added, though he did not provide further details.