At least 59 people have lost their lives, and over 155 others sustained injuries after a devastating fire broke out at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia. The fire erupted around 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) while approximately 1,500 people were attending a concert by DNK, a well-known hip-hop duo.

Videos circulating on social media show the roof of the club engulfed in flames as panic ensued among attendees. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described the incident as a “difficult and very sad day” for the nation, mourning the loss of many young lives.

Cause of the fire

According to Interior Minister Pance Toskovski, preliminary reports suggest that the fire was ignited by sparks from pyrotechnic devices used during the performance. The sparks reportedly reached the ceiling, which was composed of highly flammable material, causing the fire to spread rapidly.

Footage from inside the venue shows two flares being set off, followed by flames catching onto the ceiling. Many concertgoers initially appeared to watch the fire rather than evacuate immediately.

Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes of people scrambling to escape. Marija Taseva, a 20-year-old survivor, recounted to Channel 5 TV how she was caught in a stampede. She was trampled before managing to make her way out, while her family continued searching for her missing 25-year-old sister, who had not been located in any local hospital.

Mass casualties and overwhelmed hospitals

Kocani’s hospital initially received around 90 patients suffering from severe burns, with 18 remaining in critical condition, according to the health minister. Hospital director Kristina Serafimova stated that identifying victims had been challenging due to many not carrying ID cards. The deceased were reported to be between the ages of 14 and 24.

Authorities have arrested one individual in connection with the incident, though further details have not yet been disclosed.

In a statement, the prime minister assured that the government is “fully mobilised” to address the consequences of the disaster and determine its exact causes.

A devastating fire at a nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, has claimed the lives of at least 51 people and left over 100 injured, according to the country’s interior minister. The incident occurred during a concert attended by more than 1,000 people, primarily young attendees, at the “Pulse” nightclub.

The fire broke out around 3 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Sunday, as the popular hip-hop duo DNK was performing. The nightclub, located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of the capital, Skopje, was packed with around 1,500 people at the time of the tragedy.

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, expressed his grief over the incident, calling it a “difficult and very sad day” for the nation. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of the families, loved ones, and friends is immeasurable. The people and the government will do everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate their pain and help them in these most difficult moments.”

The injured were rushed to hospitals in Kocani and Stip, a town located about 30 kilometers south of Kocani. Local media reports suggest that the fire may have been caused by the use of pyrotechnic devices during the concert, though an official investigation is underway to determine the exact cause.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the country, with authorities and emergency services working tirelessly to provide support to the victims and their families. The incident highlights the need for stricter safety regulations and enforcement in public venues to prevent such disasters in the future.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed on Saturday that the company’s colossal Starship rocket is slated to embark on a mission to Mars by the end of 2026, with Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, on board. Musk also expressed optimism about human landings on the Red Planet, suggesting they could begin as early as 2029, though he acknowledged 2031 as a more likely timeframe.

“Starship will depart for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If these landings go well, human landings could start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more probable,” Musk stated in a post on his social media platform, X.

Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, is central to Musk’s ambitious vision of establishing a human colony on Mars. The spacecraft is also a critical component of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. A modified version of Starship is expected to serve as a lunar lander for the Artemis missions.

However, before SpaceX can realize these interplanetary ambitions, it must demonstrate that Starship is reliable, safe for crewed missions, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling—a necessity for deep-space exploration.

The company recently faced a setback during its latest Starship test flight, which ended in a fiery explosion. While the booster was successfully caught during its orbital test, the upper stage of the rocket tumbled uncontrollably minutes after liftoff and booster separation. The live video feed of the event abruptly cut off, marking a near-repeat of a previous test flight failure.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated that SpaceX conduct a thorough investigation into the incident before it can proceed with further test flights.

Despite these challenges, Musk remains steadfast in his commitment to advancing space exploration. The successful development and deployment of Starship could revolutionize humanity’s ability to travel beyond Earth, paving the way for unprecedented missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.