A devastating fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia has claimed the lives of at least 50 people, according to the state news agency MIA.
The blaze broke out during a packed concert attended by approximately 1,500 people in Kocani, a town about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of the capital, Skopje.
MIA, citing the interior ministry, reported that “at least 50 people died in a discotheque in Kocani,” where a large crowd had gathered for a performance.
The nightclub, identified as “Pulse,” was hosting a concert by DNK, a well-known hip-hop duo in the country, when the tragedy unfolded.
The fire erupted in the early hours of Sunday, around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT), as reported by online media outlet SDK, which also noted that over 100 people sustained injuries.
Many of the wounded were transported to the local Kocani hospital, while others were taken to a medical facility in Stip, located about 30 kilometers south.
While the exact cause of the fire remains uncertain, local media suggest that pyrotechnic devices used during the concert may have triggered the deadly inferno.