North Macedonia tragedy: 20 suspects, including ex-minister, under investigation

In the wake of a deadly nightclub fire in Kočani, North Macedonia, 20 individuals, including a former minister and other former civil servants, are under investigation, according to Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski.

Toshkovski revealed that the suspects are facing serious charges related to public safety, with bribery and corruption allegedly playing a key role in the disaster.

“The public will be horrified when they see for the first time that the cause of this lawlessness was again bribery and corruption. Documents were issued against all rules. Corruption has ruined Macedonia,” he said, as quoted by Russian media, per Caliber.Az.

The fire broke out around 2:35 a.m. local time during a hip-hop concert, rapidly engulfing the venue, which had been converted from a carpet warehouse. Local media described the nightclub as “improvised,” lacking basic fire safety measures like multiple exits and fire extinguishers. Initial reports suggest the club was overcrowded, with around 1,500 people inside — well beyond its capacity — when special-effects pyrotechnics allegedly ignited the deadly blaze.

The majority of the victims were teenagers and young adults, with some as young as 14 among the injured. Medical officials reported severe burns and carbon monoxide poisoning among many victims, and at least ten critically injured individuals remain on respirators. Dr. Kristina Serafimova, head of Kočani General Hospital, confirmed that plans are being made to transfer some victims to specialized hospitals across Europe.

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described the loss of so many young lives as “irreparable” and pledged that all relevant authorities would do whatever necessary to address the consequences and identify the causes of the tragedy.

Veteran journalist Branko Gerovski highlighted the deep emotional impact of the disaster, noting, “In a country as small as ours, and with the death toll likely to rise, the impact has been huge. We haven’t seen anything like this since the devastating air crashes in Macedonia in 1993. Everyone feels very emotional. They can relate to this because everyone’s kids go to nightclubs.”

Prime Minister Mickoski also confirmed that the nightclub was operating with a forged license. As a result, the country’s prosecutor's office has launched investigations within the Ministry of Economy, and authorities are conducting a nationwide review of permits for bars, clubs, and restaurants. Mickoski vowed to take a firm stance, promising to act “without mercy” if false documents are uncovered.

Neighboring countries such as Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Albania swiftly offered their assistance, and senior European Union officials, along with Pope Francis, expressed their condolences. 

As the investigation progresses, North Macedonia continues to mourn one of its deadliest tragedies in recent history.

By Tamilla Hasanova