KOČANI — 2025 · Major Tragedy
The Kočani Nightclub Fire
On the night of 16 March 2025, indoor pyrotechnics used during a concert at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani, North Macedonia, ignited flammable acoustic foam on the ceiling. Sixty-three people died and around 190 were injured; some of the victims were minors. The investigation found that about 650 people were inside, that the venue had no fire alarm or sprinklers, and that it lacked adequate emergency exits. The interior minister said the club's licence had been obtained through bribery and corruption, and a former state secretary was detained. Dozens of people and legal entities were charged with crimes against public safety; the defendants deny the charges.
- Date
- 2025
- Place
- Eastern Region, North Macedonia, Kočani, MK
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Under Investigation
- Coordinates
- 41.9200, 22.4100 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 16 March 2025Fire broke out at the Pulse club; 63 died.
- March 2025Arrests were made over alleged corruption in the licensing process.
- 2025Dozens of people and companies were charged.
- November 2025The trial began.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Kočani nightclub fire en.wikipedia.org ↗
- BBC News — North Macedonia nightclub fire bbc.com ↗
- Wikipedia
- BBC News
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.