Anger and sadness in Kočani

U Kočani, where 59 young people were tragically killed in a discotheque fire, and more than 155 were injured, sadness and anger prevailed, and many people gathered around the posted book of mourning.

After that, the citizens went on a protest walk, during which cars were damaged in front of the municipality building, and at the protest it was heard that "corruption kills".

Photo: AP Photo/Armin Durgut

Citizens pelted some establishments with eggs, and in front of the police building they called on the police officers to "come over to their side", writes N1.

Then they went to the prosecutor's office and to a company owned by the person who managed the night club where the fire broke out, which they then threw stones at.

PUMP!!! pic.twitter.com/Jkso1Hmjup

— Merlin (@ambrosiusmk) March 17, 2025

On Sunday, North Macedonian officials said that the discotheque did not have a license to operate, or rather that their license was fake. There was no fire protection, and there was only one exit from the building.

The journalist of the Macedonian television Sitel, Daniel Vasilev, said that he does not know whether the government, which has been in power for only eight or nine months, will be held responsible for the tragedy.

Photo: AP Photo/Armin Durgut

"The official information coming from the Government and the Ministry of the Interior is that those who are suspected in this investigation are people who were in the previous government. Macedonia does not have a system at the moment, as there is crime and corruption, so this will be a big fight against crime and corruption. "The discotheque where the biggest tragedy in Macedonian history took place did not have any permits and licenses for legal work," says Vasilev.

He also states that many people gather in Skopje and pay their respects to the victims.

"This is a very difficult situation for us, we are experiencing what the families of the victims experienced," he concludes.

Source: H1