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cover of episode North Macedonia nightclub disaster: What we know so far

North Macedonia nightclub disaster: What we know so far

2025/3/18
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What in the World
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A fire at Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia during a DNK concert resulted in 59 deaths and over 150 injuries. The fire was triggered by pyrotechnic devices igniting a flammable ceiling, exacerbated by inadequate safety measures and an improvised venue setup.
  • The fire started from pyrotechnic materials used during a DNK performance.
  • The venue was an improvised club inside a former carpet warehouse, operating without a license.
  • The venue had only one exit, leading to chaos during the evacuation.

Shownotes Transcript

On Sunday night, hundreds of people gathered at Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia to watch the popular hip-hop duo DNK perform. It ended in tragedy. A fire ripped through the venue killing 59 people and leaving more than 150 others injured.

Reports say the fire was caused by sparks from pyrotechnic devices that hit the ceiling, which was made of highly flammable material. The incident has raised questions about how the venue was able to operate with inadequate safety measures, and if corruption has a role to play.

We speak to Saska Cvetkovska, an investigative journalist in Skopje, about what we know so far and how the country is coping with the aftermath of the tragedy.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde