Investigation into nightclub fire in Kočani underway: Bars on windows, 59 dead and 155 injured

(Patria) - The Macedonian Public Prosecutor's Office announced that five people have been detained in connection with this morning's fire in a nightclub in Kočani. According to information from the Macedonian portal Telma, the owner of the nightclub is among those detained.

"We have already detained individuals in connection with the incident. I want to assure the Macedonian public that responsibility in this case will be determined by name and surname," said the Minister of Interior Affairs, Panče Toškovski. He added that everyone feels a moral responsibility for the national tragedy, but did not answer whether he would resign.

When asked who allowed a nightclub with such a capacity to operate in a building with bars on the windows, Toškovski requested that the Ministry of Interior be allowed to complete the investigation to determine the exact responsibility.

He confirmed that 59 people have died, and 39 have been identified. The duty police officer who inspected the facility also lost their life.

155 people were injured and are currently in several hospitals across the country.

Minors are among the deceased, but the identification of the victims is still ongoing.