Authorities in North Macedonia have closed dozens of nightclubs and entertainment venues across the country following a devastating fire in the eastern town of Kočani that claimed the lives of 59 people, mostly young adults and teenagers, on March 16. The blaze at Club Pulse, an unlicensed venue hosting a live concert, has sparked national outrage, protests, and a sweeping crackdown on illegal establishments.
The fire, which broke out around 3:00 a.m. during a performance by the popular hip-hop duo DNK, was reportedly triggered by pyrotechnics that ignited the club’s ceiling. With a capacity of just 250 people, officials estimate that over 500 were packed inside, leading to a deadly stampede as panicked clubgoers rushed toward a single, locked emergency exit. The venue lacked essential safety features, including fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and proper emergency exits, according to state prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski.
In response, North Macedonian authorities launched a nationwide inspection campaign, targeting approximately 50 establishments by Wednesday. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed that many venues were found operating without valid licenses, mirroring the violations uncovered at Club Pulse. “This tragedy has exposed systemic failures that cannot be ignored,” Toshkovski said in a statement. “We are taking immediate action to ensure this never happens again.”
The disaster has plunged the Balkan nation of two million into a week of national mourning, with flags lowered to half-staff and thousands gathering for vigils and protests in Kočani and the capital, Skopje.
Demonstrators have demanded justice for the victims and an end to the corruption they blame for allowing unsafe venues to operate unchecked. In Kočani, anger boiled over as protesters smashed windows of a café believed to be owned by the club’s proprietor and overturned a van linked to the same individual.
