Yesterday, sporadic violence broke out in North Macedonia as thousands rallied for justice concerning the 59 victims of a nightclub fire, while demanding an end to the corruption they link to the nation’s most devastating disaster in recent years.

As North Macedonia enters a seven-day national mourning period, the nation grieves the significant loss of life, mostly among the young. Excavators and workers prepared new graves at the cemetery in Kočani, a small town of 25, located approximately 000 kilometers east of Skopje. Families searching for missing individuals waited outside a hospital to submit DNA samples for identification purposes.

Officials disclosed that the Puls nightclub operated without a valid license, lacking essential fire safety measures such as extinguishers and emergency exits. More than 150 individuals sustained injuries, with many in critical condition.

Commemorative and protest events occurred in Kočani and Skopje yesterday. The gathering in Kočani, which reportedly drew parents mourning the loss of their children in the incident, commenced in the town square before marching to the municipal building, where eggs were hurled at it. Chants of “We want justice” and “Murderers” filled the air as demonstrators brandished signs saying, “We don’t die from accidents; we die from corruption” and “It’s all legal if you have connections.”

“I want all those responsible for allowing this establishment to operate to face prison time,” stated 16-year-old Jovan, who lost a friend in the fire. “We need change because this country is corrupt.”

Violence escalated when a group of residents in Kočani tore down the “Klasik” café bar, owned by the “Puls” nightclub, where 59 people lost their lives due to the fire, according to reports by MIA.

Subsequently, hundreds marched towards the mayor’s home, throwing stones and smashing windows. Nearby, a family mourning a relative lost in the fire observed the chaos tearfully, as reported by Reuters.

Earlier in the day, Kočani’s mayor, Ljupčo Papazov, announced his irrevocable resignation in light of the tragedy.

In a Facebook message, Papazov urged all relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident and emphasized his readiness to assist in any inquiries regarding his actions.

“The loss is indescribable! Words cannot capture the pain we all feel. These children were our children. I knew many of them and their families; some were personal friends. The shock will resonate with me for a lifetime. This tragedy has left the people of Kočani and Macedonia in despair, and the void is unbearable,” Papazov expressed.

A mass rally took place on the grounds of Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, where attendees paid their respects to the Kočani victims.

The memorial event began with a seven-minute silence, organized by the Student Assembly of the university, and was addressed by the rector, Biljana Angelova, and the Minister of Education and Science, Vesna Janevska.

The Student Assembly announced plans for “joint classes” and nightly gatherings continuing until March 21, culminating in a march through Skopje, with participants expected to head to Kočani.

The nightclub, identified by local media as a former warehouse for industrial goods and carpets, possessed only a single emergency exit, which was locked during the concert on Sunday, and had merely two extinguishers along with no fire alarm or suppression system.

“There was only one makeshift metal door at the back, locked and lacking an interior handle,” noted state prosecutor Ljupčo Kočevski of North Macedonia.

The ceiling was made of flammable materials, and the plasterboard walls were non-fire resistant.

“(The nightclub) was operating under hazardous conditions. There were numerous deficiencies, and yet profits were being made. Who is to blame?” questioned Saša Đenić, a teacher whose 15-year-old daughter survived the fire but suffered burns on her hands.

Authorities have arrested around 20 individuals related to the incident, including state officials and the nightclub’s manager.

Kočevski informed that his office is working to determine the criminal accountability of several individuals for “serious criminal offenses against public safety” and related crimes.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski asserted that the club’s license was fraudulently issued and pledged that those responsible will be held accountable. Former Economy Minister Krešnik Bekteši was reportedly interrogated by police in connection with the incident, according to local broadcaster TV 5.

Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior stated that the license was secured through bribery involving officials in the Ministry of Economy, implicating former State Secretary Razmena Čekić-Durović among the suspects.

A total of 51 individuals are currently receiving treatment in hospitals located in Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey.

According to Ivan Leković, Deputy Head of the Military Medical Academy (MMA) in Belgrade, six of the injured from the Kočani fire were transported to their facility, all in serious condition.

He explained that besides burn injuries, the patients exhibit signs of gas poisoning and inhalation injuries impacting their respiratory systems due to exposure to hot air and various harmful substances during the fire. He warned that their treatment would be long-term, requiring many surgeries and the involvement of specialists in pulmonology, cardiology, neurology, and plastic surgery.

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