The Deputy Head of the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade (MMA), Ivan Leković, announced today that following the fire incident in Kočani, North Macedonia, six injured individuals have been transported to the facility, while one patient is being treated at the Military Hospital in Niš. He stressed that all of them are in serious condition.

“They were brought in via three ambulances and a Serbian Army transport plane. All patients received at the Military Medical Academy are young, aged between 1998 and 2007. One patient was treated at the Military Hospital in Niš by military ambulance. All patients are currently in the intensive care unit, and their condition is critical. We are implementing all necessary intensive care measures and have utilized all our resources to assist these individuals and the people of North Macedonia,” stated the Deputy Chief of the Military Medical Academy.

He further elaborated that in addition to suffering from burns, the patients also exhibit signs of gas poisoning from the fire, along with inhalation injuries that have damaged their respiratory systems and lungs due to hot air and toxic substances from the blaze.

He remarked that the treatment process would be long-term, necessitating multiple surgeries and the collaboration of various specialists, including pulmonologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and plastic surgeons.

The patient admitted to the Niš Military Hospital underwent surgery and is also in critical condition, Leković reported.

The MMA has dispatched a six-member team to North Macedonia via medical transport, which will remain there. This team is composed of two plastic surgeons, an anesthesiologist, an anesthetist, and two medical technicians, all of whom will assist North Macedonian colleagues with the surgical treatment of patients and stay in Skopje for as long as necessary.

Additionally, another 12 patients, following a triage process and evaluation of their conditions, will be transported from Skopje by military transport plane to the Military Medical Academy and the Clinical Center of Serbia for further treatment, as announced by the MMA.

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