Nord -Macedonians mourn after a fatal night club fire

KOcani, Nord -Macedonia -After the deadliest tragedy of North Macedonia in the recent memory, at the dozens of die in a nightclub -inferno, the tiny Balkan nation struggles to deal with so many young people while trying to keep those who are involved and prevent and prevent a different unrest.

The massive fire tore through the crowded night club early Sunday in the eastern city of Kocani and had 59 people injured and 155 from burns, smoke and smoke and feet in the panicked flight towards the only output of the building.

People aged 16 and over were one of the victims, and the nation declared seven days of grief.

“We are all shocked and I am shocked by myself: as a mother as president,” said the President of North Macedonia, Gordana Davkova Siljanovska, on Sunday evening in a speech to the nation.

“I still can't believe that the terrible tragedy in Kocani is a reality. I do not know what words to pronounce my condolences to the parents and relatives of the deceased, ”she said. “Nobody should escape the law, justice and punishment! Let us not allow us to endanger the lives of innocent people. “

The fire that the nation of 2 million shaken-like family ties for many personally made it personally-the latest in a series of deadly nightclub fires around the world.

Allegations of bribery surrounding the night club

The authorities say that they are investigating allegations of bribery around the night club, which was summarized with young night swords and double capacity. And from Monday, the government of North Macedonia ordered a comprehensive three-day inspection in all night clubs and cabarets across the country.

The country mourned when people watched shocking scenes in the city, in which the rescuers carried out their dark task for hours to remove the charred corporations of club goers. The fire parted the roof of the one -story building and unveiled the charred remains of wooden beams and rubble.

Anxious parents gathered outside the hospitals in Kocani and Capital Skopje, about 115 kilometers to the west, who were over the injured after updates. Many of the most serious treatment were treated in Greece and other neighboring countries.

Dragi Stojanov waited outside the hospital in Kocani and was one of those who received the dreaded news that his 21-year-old son Tomce had died.

“He was my only child. I no longer need my life. … 150 families were destroyed, ”he said. “Children are burned beyond recognition. There are corpses, only corpses inside (the club). … and the bosses (from organized crimes), just put money in their pockets. “

The number of fatalities can continue to rise

The flags across the country were reduced half the country, and the number of fatalities can continue to rise, 20 of the injuries in critical condition, said the Minister of Health Arben Taravari on Sunday.

Although the examination of the cause of the fire has not yet been completed, videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the ceiling of the stage on the beating of Club Pulses and lit the glasses as a band.

“We even tried to walk through the bathroom just to find bars (under the windows),” 19-year-old Marija Taseva told The Associated Press. “Somehow I managed to get out. I fell down the stairs and they ran over me, trampled me. … I hardly stayed alive and could hardly breathe. “She suffered a violation of her face.

Interior Minister Vills Toshkovski said that 15 people were arrested because of a survey after a preliminary inspection had been given that the association operated without proper license. He said the number of people in the club was at least the official capacity of 250 twice as high.

“We suspect that there is bribery and corruption in this case,” he said without explaining reporters.

Condolute from leaders in Europe and from the office of Pope Francis, who was taken to the hospital for a month due to double pneumonia.

“I had many difficult moments and challenges in my life, but today is by far the most difficult day of my life,” said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in a television speech. “My heart breaks and I have no strength to speak today. I was broken and my mind is broken. “

In the late Sunday, the residents of Kocani kept a vigil in candlelight to support the funeral families and waited for light church candles in long snakes.

Beti Delovska, an economist from Skopje, said North Macedonia has never experienced a tragedy like this, with dozens of young people disappear in minutes. And she noticed that many young people with light futures had already left the nation to look for opportunities elsewhere.