Kocani Pulse discotheque fire reveals total breach of building safety standards

A forensic investigation of the fire that devastated the Pulse discotheque in Kocani, North Macedonia, concluded that the rebuilding and conversion of the former industrial facility into a nightclub completely disregarded safety regulations. Professor Goran Markovski, a court‑appointed expert from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, testified that the structural system, materials and fire‑protection measures failed to meet the standards required for the venue’s new purpose, resulting in the collapse of the roof and rapid spread of flames.

The fire killed 63 people and injured more than 200. Markovski compared the tragedy to the 2010 Haiti and Chile earthquakes, arguing that strict building codes in Chile limited casualties, whereas the lack of compliance in Pulse led to the high death toll. He emphasised that safety of visitors cannot be ensured by the public and must be guaranteed by institutions and professionals through proper design, construction and fire‑protection provisions.