The tragic death toll of the large fire at the Puls discotheque in Kočani, North Macedonia so far is 59 people, while more than 150 are injured. Twenty-two people who are in critical condition are being transported to Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece, and some of the injured are being transported to Serbia. The Prosecutor's Office requested the detention of 20 persons, for four issued international warrants
At least 59 people were killed and more than 150 injured in the fire at the Pulse discotheque in Kočani., Macedonian media report.
The injured were transferred to hospitals in Štip and Skopje.
Among the dead were members of the band DNA, whose concert was held at the discotheque.
Twenty-two people who are in critical condition are being transported to Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece, and some of the injured are being transported to Serbia.
Seven-day mourning declared. Twenty people were detained, including the owner of the discotheque and the organizers of the concert.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, but it is assumed that the fire was caused by pyrotechnic sparks that ignited the ceiling of the building.
The plane with the injured landed at the Batajnički airport
A plane of the Serbian Army landed at Batajnica Airport with those injured in the fire at the discotheque in Kočani, from where they were transported by ambulance to the Clinical Center of Serbia and the Military Medical Academy for further treatment, RTS reported.
According to unofficial data, nine patients will be placed in the Clinical Center of Serbia, while three people injured in the fire will be treated at the VMA.
Two doctors from the Academy of Medical Sciences, a plastic surgeon and an anesthesiologist, as well as a medical technician and an instrument technician, who are helping in the treatment after the tragedy in Kočani, remained in North Macedonia.
Arrest warrant for four people
So far, 35 victims have been identified, of which 31 are from Kočani, and four from Štip.
The Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, Panče Toškovski, said that so far interviews have been conducted with 10 hospitalized persons, including one member of the music group DNA, which was performing at the Puls Club at the time of the fire.
He said that a central warrant has been issued for four people.
Toškovski: There were 500 people in the disco in Kočani, 250 tickets were sold
The Minister of the Interior of North Macedonia, Panče Toškovski, said that at the time of the tragedy, there were about 59 people in the discotheque "Pulse" in Kočani, where 500 people died in the fire, and that 250 tickets were sold.
He said at the press conference that the names of the deceased will be communicated to their families after identification.
According to him, most of the victims have been identified, all bodies have been found, and 22 people are in critical condition.
"Macedonia is crying today, but there will be responsibility for everyone who is corrupt, irresponsible and anyone who has a direct or indirect influence on the occurrence of this criminal-legal event," said Toškoski.
The parents do not allow the bodies of the dead children to be taken to Skopje for an autopsy
The parents who lost their children in the fire at the "Puls" discotheque in Kočani do not allow the bodies of the victims to be taken to Skopje for an additional autopsy, demanding that they be handed over to them immediately in order to prepare the funerals, reports Plusinfo.
They spontaneously blocked the entrance to the hospital in Kočani and opposed the decision to transport the bodies of the victims in the tragic fire at the "Puls" discotheque to Skopje for forensic medicine.
"The whole world understood why they died and how they died." Why are we still sitting here? We don't give children," said the parents, forming a human shield in front of the hospital entrance.
In front of the hospital, the presence of the police has increased, and the Skopje prosecutor is explaining to the parents the legal procedure and the need for an additional autopsy.
In the meantime, several parents went to talk with the representatives of the competent institutions in order to find a common solution and agree on further procedures.
Serafimova: The youngest victim in the discotheque was 14 years old, the oldest 24 years old
The director of the Kočani hospital, Kristina Serafimova, said today that those who died in the fire at the "Puls" disco were from Skopje, Štip, Probištip and Kočani and that they were between 14 and 24 years old.
"We received 70 people, unfortunately, some died." Patients suffered burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. They were then transferred to the Clinical Hospital in Štip, and some of them were sent from there to Skopje," said Serafimova at a press conference, reports Plus info.
According to her, the first call came at 02.48, and the hospital was mobilized immediately.
Health Minister Arben Taravari said that a total of 115 patients are currently hospitalized in Macedonian hospitals. According to him, all patients are in a relatively stable condition, and some have been released for home treatment.
He stated that a total of 47 patients will be treated abroad, and that burn specialists from Israel, Belgrade and Prague will arrive in North Macedonia tomorrow, who will assist the local medical teams.
The MUP and the prosecution suspect more than 20 people for the tragedy in Kočani
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Northern Macedonia, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office, has so far suspected more than 20 people in connection with the tragedy in Kočani, Macedonian Kurir reports.
There are about 15 people in the police station, some of the suspects for causing this criminal event have died, some are in the hospital, said the Minister of the Interior, Panče Toškovski.
"Four suspects are in the hospital." Two members of the band, the son of the disco owner and the legal entity that manages the disco. Some of the detained persons who are currently in the police station are persons who are directly guilty, according to the evidence so far. One person was detained who is the organizer of the event and whom we suspect is one of those directly responsible," said Toškovski.
The former state secretary of the Ministry of Economy, the head of the sector in the Ministry of Economy, the former director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue and three employees of the Directorate were also detained.
Several members of the DNA band died in a fire in Kočani
Three members of the DNA band Andrej Gorgieski, Filip Stevanovski and Gorgi Gorgiev, as well as the group's backing vocalist and photographer Sara Projkovska lost their lives in the tragic fire that broke out in the "Puls" discotheque in Kočani, Macedonian media reports.
Andrej Gorgieski, one of the singers of the DNA band, succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the fire in Kočani, reports Macedonian television Telma, referring to information received from his family.
In addition, the musician Filip Stevanovski from Kumanovo died in the fire - supporting member of the DNA duo, Stip TV Zvezda reports.
Stevanovski was a producer, pianist, trombonist and composer, with a master's degree in jazz music.
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