Nightclub fire in North Macedonia kills at least 59, injures more than 100

A massive fire tore through a nightclub in North Macedonia’s eastern town of Kocani early Sunday, killing at least 59 people and injuring 155, authorities said.

"The fire was caused by pyrotechnics used for lighting effects at the concert and activated the sprinklers. Most likely, sparks caught a part of the ceiling that was made of flammable material, causing the fire to spread to the entire discotheque in a short period of time, creating thick smoke," said Interior Minister Pance Toskovski.

An eyewitness who lost her sister in the fire said, "The fire broke out, everyone started screaming and shouting: "Get out, get out!", but unfortunately there was only one exit, and there were 1,500 people inside."

As relatives waited outside the hospital for news of the victims, Kocani resident Dragi Stojanov, who lost his son in the fire said, “He was my only child. I don’t need my life anymore."