Thousands of people have protested in the northern Macedonian city of Kocani in the wake of a nightclub fire that left 59 people dead and 155 injured.
The protesters are demanding a fair investigation and accusing the authorities of corruption. Civic activists called on people across the country to gather in city centres on Tuesday, March 18.
“No one should die like this. These children had a future, they had talents,” said one demonstrator.
A group of teenagers looted one of the town’s bars and smashed windows in it, believing the establishment belonged to the owner of the burnt-out club. Many Kocani residents believe the corruption caused the nightclub to operate without proper security measures.
According to officials, the club’s licence was obtained illegally, and the establishment itself was a converted carpet warehouse, with the only emergency exit locked at the time of the tragedy. Prosecutor Ljupko Kocevski said there were only two fire extinguishers in the premises and no fire alarm or sprinkler system.
The fire occurred on the night of March 16 at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani. The cause of the fire, according to preliminary reports, was the use of pyrotechnics. Police detained about 20 people, including the nightclub owner and several former government ministers.
