On Friday, thirteen individuals, including a former government minister, were ordered to remain in custody for 30 days in North Macedonia in connection with a nightclub fire that claimed the lives of 59 people, including six minors. The blaze, which is thought to have been ignited by pyrotechnics, also left 197 others injured.
The tragedy has deeply affected Kocani, a town with a population of 25,000 located east of the capital, Skopje.
Officials have indicated that the nightclub operated without a valid license and lacked essential safety features such as fire extinguishers and emergency exits, with its structure composed of flammable materials.
State prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski reported that a total of 24 suspects are currently in custody, with three individuals still hospitalized due to the fire. He attributed the incident to a “series of oversights and unlawful actions by officials.”
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Among those detained are officials responsible for issuing operating licenses, the club owner, a member of a band that performed at the venue, as well as police officers and security personnel who permitted minors and pyrotechnics into the club.
In response to the incident, authorities have been conducting safety inspections of nightclubs and cafes nationwide this week.
