On Sunday, a huge fire destroyed a packed nightclub in North Macedonia, leaving over 150 people injured and 59 dead. As police jailed 15 persons, the tragedy brought corruption in the small Balkan nation to the attention of the country’s citizens.
When a local pop trio was performing at the club at around 2:30 am CET, the fire started, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski informed reporters. According to him, 39 of the deceased have been identified thus far.
Authorities caution that since 20 of the injured are still in critical condition, the death toll could increase. In remembrance of the tragedy’s victims, the government has proclaimed seven days of national mourning.
Mostly young people were killed and injured in the eastern village of Kocani fire as a result of burns, smoke inhalation, and a stampede during the frantic attempt to escape the building’s only exit, according to officials. Among the victims were people as young as sixteen.
According to Marija Taseva, a 19-year-old survivor who had facial injuries, “we even attempted to exit through the bathroom, but there were bars (on the windows). I was able to escape somehow. They ran over and trampled me after I tumbled down the steps. Taseva continued, “I could hardly breathe and barely survived.
Also Read:
Trade Tariffs and the Competitiveness Gap are Identified by the ECB as Growth Threats
