STORY: :: Mourners in North Macedonia hold a vigil for the 59 people who died in a nightclub fire
:: Skopje, North Macedonia
:: March 18, 2025
“In the Balkans, only tragedies can bring about the change, because we Macedonians are used to enduring the worst evil that can happen. We suffered for five centuries under Turkish slavery and we can endure anything, until a tragedy occurs. Only then something can change, but it cannot change just like that. There have to be victims, innocent victims, that’s how it has always happened with us in the Balkans.”
“This has to stop, this corruption and bribery, it has to stop. This is a mess and I can say that I am giving my support for resolution of this. I’m not on either side, I just think enough is enough.”
In the capital Skopje, a few thousand people gathered in the main square for a quiet vigil, illuminating the area with their mobile phones for 16 minutes, signifying the date of the tragedy, March 16.
The fire broke out during a hip hop concert in the town of Kocani at around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Sunday (March 16) when sparks from flares set a patch of ceiling alight. Hundreds of people scrambled for the unlicensed venue’s only exit as flames spread across the roof.
Authorities have arrested about 20 people in connection with the fire, including government officials and the nightclub’s manager.