There is deep sadness, pain, and grief in North Macedonia after 59 people, mostly young people aged 16 to 25, lost their lives in a fire that broke out at the “Pulse” disco club in Kočani on March 16. Over 150 people were seriously injured. The so-called “disco club of horror,” which had been operating for years without a valid license and in breach of safety standards, is at the center of this tragedy. The use of pyrotechnics during a concert, which was attended by more people than the venue’s capacity allowed, proved to be fatal. Many of the seriously injured were transported to hospitals in the region and beyond. Citizens are demanding justice for the victims and the eradication of corruption that continually causes such deaths. Over 20 people have been detained in connection with this tragedy.
