Kocani’s Mayor, Ljupco Papazov, announced his irrevocable resignation today following a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of 59 individuals and injuries to 162 others in a fire at a local disco.

In a post on Facebook, Papazov called on all relevant authorities to investigate the responsibilities pertaining to the fire and expressed his readiness to cooperate fully with the institutions involved.

“Although I did not have direct legal authority in this situation, I am prepared to answer all inquiries regarding my actions and decisions,” stated Ljupco Papazov.

“The loss is colossal! No words can articulate the sorrow we all share. These young lives were ours. I knew many of them and their families, with some being close family friends. The shock and grief I experienced will haunt me forever. This tragedy has plunged the people of Kočani and Macedonia into despair, and the emptiness it has created is unbearable,” Papazov expressed.

The fire at the “Puls” discotheque in Kočani, located approximately 100 kilometers east of Skopje, ignited on Sunday at 02:30:04.45 due to pyrotechnics used during a concert by the band DNK, and was contained by approximately 02:45.

Authorities reported that around 500 people were present in the disco, despite only 250 tickets being sold.

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