THE nightclub in North Macedonia that erupted into flames reportedly had a fire exit padlocked and walled up with no handle on the inside, the prosecutor has revealed.
Club Pulse turned into inferno during a concert overnight on Saturday, leaving at least 59 young partygoers dead and another 155 injured – 22 of whom are in critical condition.
The club erupted into flames at around 2:35am on Sunday after pyrotechnics set light to the roof of the busy club, according to interior minister Panche Toshkovski.
As investigations into the blaze continue, State Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski revealed disturbing details of the decimated building’s lack of fire protections, PlusInfo reports.
He reportedly said the club was covered in flammable materials with no hydrant network and a seemingly extreme lack of fire extinguishers.
There was also only one improvised metal exit door at the back of the building – but it was padlocked and with no handle on the inside.
The building also had no door braking system or a fire notification system with a loud sound signal.
Kocevski added that the club was coated with illegal soundproofing materials along with visual accessories that were made out of easily flammable materials.
There was also no access for emergency fire services from both sides of the building in accordance with the country’s Fire Protection Regulation.
Meanwhile a heartbroken survivor of the nightclub fire has revealed her sister was trampled in the frantic surge for the exit.
One survivor said she was forced to push through charred bodies to save herself as the flames tore through the old warehouse.
Local hip-hop duo, DNK, were performing at the time as harrowing footage shows flames starting to burn directly above the stage.
Officials so far have 20 suspects, including around 15 people in the police station, some who died in the blaze or have been hospitalised, Toshkovski revealed.
Video posted on social media shows how the building was quickly engulfed in flames as clouds of smoke billow into the sky.
Terrifying sparks can be seen bursting through the roof in a separate clip.
Those trapped inside the burning building were said to have frantically ran for the exit as smoke filled the venue.
Recalling the harrowing moment, she told Sky News: “The fire broke out suddenly and everyone started running for the exit.
“There were charred bodies. I don’t know… everyone is stressed.”
Around 500 people were partying in the concert hall at the time, according to local media, but only 250 were sold.
She was rushed to hospital to receive treatment before she started a frantic search for her missing sister who was also in the club.
The local woman said: “She is injured. Running outside she fell and people stomped over her.”
A father of one of the victims of the fire also revealed the pain he has been forced to endure across the last 12 hours.
Dragi Stojanov’s son Tomce, 21, was inside the packed nightclub.
He said this morning: “It’s my only child and he died. What is left for me in life? I don’t need my life anymore.”
As he searched for his son, Stojanov said he saw many of the victims “burnt beyond recognition”.
It comes as the public prosecutor’s office has said the exact number of victims and those injured is still being determined.
Only 39 of the fatalities have been identified so far, interior minister Toshkovski said.
Officials confirmed the youngest victim was a 14-year-old with the oldest being aged 24.
Health minister Arben Taravari told reporters that at least 118 people were taken to hospital with a range of burns.
He said: “All our capabilities have been put to use, in a maximum effort to save as many lives as possible of the young people involved in this tragedy.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”American Airlines jet bursts into flames at Denver Airport with horrified passengers forced to escape onto wing” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6370004726112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]A hospital in the capital of Skopje took in 27 people who suffered severe burns, local broadcaster MRT reported.
The others injured are being treated at Kocani General Hospital as well as a nearby facility in Stip.
Images of the charred remains of the nightclub show its roof caved in and the windows left ruined.
Inside the club, piles of ash-covered debris can be seen.
The country’s prime minister Hristijan Mickoski travelled to the scene today.
He posted on X this morning: “This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia.
“The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of the families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable.
“The people and the government will do everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate their pain and help them in these most difficult moments.”
President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, was seen attending a hospital in the capital fighting back tears.
He told reporters in Skopje: “I simply cannot comprehend this… what a disaster, what a tragedy.”
A police cordon remains in place as of this morning.
Family members of those injured and tragically killed have gathered in front of the hospital as they wait for updates.
Last April, a blaze at the Masquerade nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, left 29 workers trapped inside as the club was undergoing renovations.
One of the worst nightclub fires in recent memory came in December 2000 after a reported welding accident left 309 people dead at a disco in the central Chinese city of Luoyang.
