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08:44 CRIME

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Another person dies as a result of the fire in Kocani

2025-10-14 14:59:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The death toll from a fire that engulfed a nightclub in North Macedonia has risen to 63, after a musician died from injuries sustained almost seven months after the incident, the Macedonian prosecutor's office said on October 14th.

Vladimir Blazhev-Pancho, the 46-year-old singer of the band DNK, died in Skopje after being hospitalized due to serious injuries, prosecutors confirmed.

On March 16, during a concert at the Pulse club in Ko?ani, a fire broke out in the crowded club, killing dozens of people. Almost 200 more were injured as a result of the fire.

Eight musicians from this band were among the victims of the fire.

The tragedy in Kocani occurred during a performance by the music group DNK, when sparks from pyrotechnic devices set fire to the ceiling of the discotheque, causing the flames to spread rapidly and panic and the narrow exit from the building to cause great chaos.

Prosecutors have said the club met almost no safety standards.

Earlier this month, a court in North Macedonia confirmed indictments against 34 people – a significant step towards bringing to justice those believed to be responsible for one of the deadliest nightclub fires in Europe.

After confirming the indictments, the judge is expected to decide on the date for the trial to begin.

The three defendants in this case are the responsible persons, owners and managers of CLASSIC DM companies which have been running a food business in the ill-fated facility since December 2012.

Among the defendants is the brother of the discotheque owner, who, according to the prosecution, was responsible for selling tickets and controlling the number of guests and their ages.

According to the prosecution's estimates, there were over 500 people at Pulse that fateful night.

Three mayors of Kocani are also charged: Ljubco Papazov, who was in office at the time of the tragedy, and his predecessors Nikolco Iliev and Ratko Dimitrovski.

Former economy ministers Kreshnik Bekteshi and Valon Saraqini are also among the accused. The list also includes a state secretary and five officials from the Ministry of Economy, responsible for issuing licenses for nightclubs.

Also in the dock will be the current minister without portfolio in the government, Shaban Saliu, who is also a candidate for mayor of the municipality of Shuto Orizara in Skopje in the local elections on October 19.

Saliu is accused as the former director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, along with three other former directors, as well as the inspector general who headed the inspection service at the State Security Service.

Local inspectors, such as three building inspectors from the Municipality of Kocani, members of the security forces, will also sit in the dock./ REL