Thousands of mourners gathered in cemeteries across North Macedonia for the funerals of dozens of people who died in a nightclub fire, marking the country's worst disaster in decades.
Fifty-nine people lost their lives and more than 170 were injured in the small, unlicensed "Pulse" club in Kocani. Crowds dressed in black, holding candles and flowers, streamed toward the cemetery in Kocani, where at least 30 graves were dug this week. The names of the victims were displayed on white paper attached to thin wooden sticks at the head of each grave. Priests offered prayers over the coffins as they were positioned at the gravesides.
Luka Anastasov, 60, reflected on the tragic loss: "The city is in shock, all these children lost, such a big tragedy that we will never be able to get over," he said, returning from the funerals.
Funeral ceremonies were held in towns across the country. In the capital, Skopje, located 80 kilometers west of Kocani, around 1,000 people, including prominent musicians, attended the funeral of Andrej Gorgieski, 43, a singer in the DNK band that was performing when the fire broke out.
The disaster has left Kocani, a town with a population of about 25,000, in mourning. Many stores and cafes have closed during a week of national grief, and reminders of the fire are evident everywhere, particularly in photos of the young victims taped to street lamps, trees, and doors.
Authorities revealed that the nightclub's license was illegally obtained and that it lacked fire extinguishers and emergency exits, with its structure composed of flammable materials. More than 20 individuals have been detained in connection with the incident, including government officials and the nightclub's manager.
Protests demanding an end to corruption occurred in Kocani and Skopje this week, with sporadic violence erupting in Kocani when a group vandalized a pub allegedly owned by the same individual responsible for "Pulse." Later, hundreds gathered outside the mayor's residence, throwing rocks and breaking windows.
In response to the tragedy, authorities initiated inspections of nightclubs and cafes nationwide to ensure compliance with safety regulations.