North Macedonia is observing a seven-day mourning period following the devastating incident in Kočani. Eight individuals have been taken into custody, and the conditions of the injured are being closely monitored, with some having been transferred to adjacent countries for treatment.

State Public Prosecutor Ljupčo Kočevski announced last night his intention to file for short-term detention for ten individuals, but the prosecution later clarified that it would be requesting detention for 11. The verification procedure for these individuals has already been initiated. Hearings regarding the detention orders are currently ongoing at the Basic Court in Kočani, as per the announcement from the Prosecutor’s Office.

Additional measures in response to the fire at the Puls disco in Kočani, which resulted in 59 fatalities and over 150 injuries, are expected to be disclosed later today. In light of this tragedy, North Macedonia has officially declared a seven-day mourning period.

“A proposal for short-term detention for eight individuals has already been filed, while the remaining three are still hospitalized in critical condition. The proceedings concerning them will resume once their health stabilizes. The investigation into several individuals’ responsibilities is ongoing,” stated the Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation into the tragedy will continue today, as the current team of six prosecutors will be expanded by three to five more, due to the complexity of the case, as noted by Prosecutor Kočevski.

14 injured in Bulgaria

While the authorities investigate all facets that contributed to the tragedy, the health status of over 20 critically injured individuals, who have been flown to hospitals in neighboring countries since last night, is being meticulously monitored.

“The condition of the injured from North Macedonia is serious,” remarked Prof. Nikolay Gabrovski regarding the patients being treated at Sofia’s Pirogov Hospital.

They were transported to Sofia yesterday aboard a Bulgarian Air Force plane dubbed “Spartan.”

“Bulgaria has pledged to admit 14 patients for treatment, eight of whom will be at the Pirogov Hospital,” added Gabrovski.

Five of these patients, aged between 22 and 25, arrived last night, with three placed on ventilators.

“Their condition is serious, and we cannot provide further details as they were recently admitted. We are doing everything possible to stabilize them,” Bulgarian media quoted Gabrovski.

Three additional patients under the age of 21 were admitted after 5 p.m. Dr. Valentin Dimitrov, director of Pirogov Hospital, stated this morning that all were in critical condition. Furthermore, three injured individuals were transported to Plovdiv and another three to Varna.

The Bulgarian state leadership, along with all political parties and Bulgarian Patriarch Danil, expressed their condolences for the lives lost. Citizens, including former Bulgarian Ambassador to Macedonia Angel Angelov, paid their respects outside the Macedonian Embassy in Sofia with a moment of silence, flowers, and candles.

Two people underwent surgery in Thessaloniki last night

Greek media have been extensively covering the tragedy in North Macedonia, showcasing footage of a Macedonian ambulance arriving at Thessaloniki’s Papanikolaou Hospital with three injured individuals. Two young women and a man—aged 19, 25, and 26—have been hospitalized since yesterday afternoon. They are classified as “very serious cases” due to severe burns they sustained in the fire. Urgent admissions were made to the burns unit of the Plastic Surgery Clinic, where two of them underwent their initial surgeries last night. One was operated on around 8 PM, followed promptly by the other.

“Three intubated young individuals have been admitted to the Papanikolaou Burns Unit, and their condition is under close observation by the healthcare team in both the unit and the intensive care unit,” reported the media.

According to official sources, Greece can accommodate up to 18 injured patients across Papanikolaou Hospital and military hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki, if necessary.

12 injured transported to Belgrade

Serbia has also extended its assistance, with a military plane transporting 12 injured individuals last night to the Military Medical Academy and the Clinical Center of Serbia. Additionally, four doctors and medical technicians flew from Serbia to Skopje to help with the medical evacuation of the injured.

Earlier, two more injured persons were transported via military ambulances to the Military Hospital at the Clinical Center in Niš. Plans are in place for two doctors from the Military Medical Academy—a plastic surgeon and an anesthesiologist—and one medical technician to stay in Skopje to assist the injured.

Turkey has dispatched two medical evacuation planes, with more expected to arrive today from several other nations.

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