{"id":886,"date":"2025-03-17T23:58:35","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T23:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=886"},"modified":"2025-03-17T23:58:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T23:58:35","slug":"886","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=886","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

According to police, the horrifying catastrophe claimed the lives of at least 59 people and injured over 155 more.<\/p>\n

Lazarov played for FC Shkupi, a team in the Macedonian First Football League.<\/p>\n

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The club wrote: \u201cWith deep sorrow, we announce that our footballer Andrej Lazarov was among the victims of the tragic fire in Ko\u010dani. As the heroic person he was, Lazarov lost his life while trying to help others escape the flames.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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During his courageous act, he was overcome by smoke. His bravery and humanity in those final moments will always be remembered.\u201d<\/strong><\/div>\n

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\u201cThis is an immense loss for our club, his teammates, and the football community. Words cannot express the pain we feel during this tragedy.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Source: Freepik<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Before joining Shkupi in September, Lazarov, a former Macedonian youth international, played for a little more than a year in Croatia.<\/p>\n

The Pulse club in Kocani, a village 100 kilometers east of the capital Skopje, was the scene of the fire early on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n

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More than 1,000 people had gathered at the venue for a performance by hip-hop group DNK, and emergency personnel, including firefighters from nearby towns, hurried to the site.<\/span><\/div>\n

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\nAccording to online media outlet SDK, the fire is said to have begun at around 3am local time on Sunday, while the event started at around midnight.<\/span><\/div>\n

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Social media footage shows massive smoke plumes rising into the air as the nightclub is engulfed in flames.<\/p>\n

Videos taken inside the venue demonstrate the employment of two stage jets, a kind of indoor explosives utilized at concerts, during the performance.<\/p>\n

Flames can be seen above the band very soon after they are deployed, and they spread swiftly.<\/p>\n

Interior Minister Pance Toskovski, speaking outside the local police station, stated that sparks from the fireworks likely started the fire by striking the ceiling, which was composed of a highly flammable substance.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cAt the moment of activating the so-called sprinklers, the sparks caught the ceiling that was made of easily flammable material after which for a very short period of time the fire spread across the whole discotheque, creating a thick smoke.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The BBC-confirmed footage also depicts the throng meandering around the club, unsure of what to do, as they attempt to put out the flames on the ceiling.<\/p>\n

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Witnesses said a stampede\u2019 followed, with numerous individuals crushed to death, according to Lider, a radio station in Skopje.<\/span><\/div>\n

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\u201cAccording to the data we have by now, 51 persons lost their lives and more than 100 persons are injured,\u201d<\/strong> Mr Toskovski said.<\/p>\n

According to reports, the majority of those killed and injured are in the 14\u201325 age range.<\/p>\n

Some of the injured were flown to hospitals in the capital, Skopje, while others were sent to the town\u2019s local hospital and facilities in the town of Stip, which is 30 kilometers to the south.<\/p>\n

According to news site Klix Vijesti, 30 patients were receiving treatment for their injuries at the Kocani hospital, while another 60 were being moved to another medical facility, according to Kristina Serafimova, the hospital\u2019s director.<\/p>\n

Lider shared an image of the nightclub\u2019s burned-out remnants on Sunday after sunrise, revealing a huge hole in the roof.<\/p>\n

Additional footage released by the Balkan nation\u2019s media depicts the building\u2019s entrance charred by fire.<\/p>\n

Hristijan Mickoski, the prime minister of North Macedonia, described the day as \u201cdifficult and very sad\u201d <\/strong>and urged solidarity and assistance for the relatives of the injured and victims while the government investigates the fire\u2019s origin.<\/p>\n

In a post on Facebook, he said: \u201cWith deep sorrow I received the news of the terrible tragedy in Kochani.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a difficult and sorrowful day for Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn these moments of deep sorrow, our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery, and to the families of the deceased\u2014strength to bear this unimaginable loss.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe people and the government will do everything in their power to alleviate their pain a little and help them through these most difficult moments.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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