Kocani Pulse nightclub fire sparks trial over safety lapses

The trial over the Pulse nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia, continued on March 16, 2025 as judges read written testimonies from two female witnesses. One survivor said the venue regularly allowed entry without ID checks and lacked clearly marked fire exits. She recounted that during a performance by the group D.N.K., pyrotechnic effects ignited a blaze, prompting panic and a rush toward the only exit she knew. The other witness, a café employee of the club’s owner, described the chaos on the stairs and main door and her own evacuation to a hospital for injuries and smoke inhalation.

The defence sought to have the statements excluded, arguing the girls were traumatized, but prosecutors argued there were no grounds to bar the evidence, emphasizing victim protection and preventing further victimisation. The case is being heard by Judge Diana Grujewska‑Iliyevska, with a team of fifteen public prosecutors representing the state.

The fire, one of the deadliest incidents in recent Macedonian history, killed the club’s owner and several friends and relatives attending the event, highlighting severe shortcomings in fire safety enforcement at entertainment venues.