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Pulse nightclub trial: Experts reveal illegal construction and safety violations
During the ongoing trial regarding the Pulse nightclub fire in Kočani, which resulted in 63 deaths and over 200 injuries, expert witnesses testified that all construction work at the site was illegal. Expert Marijana Lazarevska stated that the building underwent a full reconstruction rather than a simple adaptation, a process that required legal procedures that were never followed.
The testimony revealed that the facility was illegally repurposed from an industrial warehouse to a catering establishment, which significantly increased the structural load and compromised safety. The expert noted that the building's 472-square-meter area meant it should have been categorized as a disco club rather than a cabaret.
Key safety violations identified include the installation of gypsum-board partitions and doors that obstructed evacuation routes. Additionally, the attic was constructed using highly flammable materials, including glass wool, gypsum boards, and polyurethane sponge, which burned completely during the fire. The only existing document resembling a project was prepared by Venci DOOEL, but it lacked required legal phases and was never submitted to the municipality, despite being used by the State Market Inspectorate and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2012.
Entities
Dijana Gruevska-Ilievska · Dushica Trpchevska Angelkovikj · Dusica Trpcevska Angelkovik · Idrizovo · Kočani · Marijana Lazarevska · Pulse nightclub · Venci DOOEL
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 7 SOURCES] All construction interventions in the Pulse nightclub were carried out illegally, without project documentation, professional supervision, or approval from competent institutions. novamakedonija.com.mk · lider.mk · novasloboda.ba · 360stepeni.mk · www.brif.mk · +2 more
- [DISPUTED] The court postponed the hearing to allow for a numerical presentation of photographic evidence following a defense objection. lider.mk · libertas.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Gypsum-board partitions and doors were installed that represented a direct obstacle to evacuation. lider.mk · libertas.mk
- [● 5 SOURCES] The attic was constructed using glass wool, gypsum boards, and polyurethane sponge, a material that burned completely in the fire. novamakedonija.com.mk · novasloboda.ba · 360stepeni.mk · www.brif.mk · www.vijesti.ba
- [● 5 SOURCES] The repurposing of the building from a warehouse to a catering facility significantly increased the load on the structure and directly affected safety. novamakedonija.com.mk · novasloboda.ba · 360stepeni.mk · www.brif.mk · www.vijesti.ba
- [● 2 SOURCES] According to the urban planning documentation of Kočani, the repurposing of the site from an industrial object to a catering facility is not permitted. lider.mk · libertas.mk
- [● 5 SOURCES] The only document resembling a project was prepared by the company Venci DOOEL from Kočani, but it lacked legal phases and was not submitted to the Municipality. novamakedonija.com.mk · novasloboda.ba · 360stepeni.mk · www.brif.mk · www.vijesti.ba
- [● 3 SOURCES] The building's surface area was approximately 472 square meters, which is significant for determining its category. novasloboda.ba · www.brif.mk · www.vijesti.ba
- [● 3 SOURCES] The object could not be categorized as a cabaret, but rather as a disco club based on its characteristics. novasloboda.ba · www.brif.mk · www.vijesti.ba