North Macedonia nightclub fire: 13 people left under arrest in connection with the deaths of 59 people
Kyiv • UNN
In North Macedonia, 13 people, including an ex-minister, have been arrested in connection with a nightclub fire that killed 59 people. Pyrotechnics may have been the cause of the tragedy, and there were safety violations in the club.
In North Macedonia, 13 people including a former government minister were remanded in custody for 30 days due to a nightclub fire, allegedly caused by pyrotechnics, that killed 59 people, including six minors, UNN reports, citing Reuters.
Details
The incident, in which another 197 people were injured, shook Kochani, a town of 25,000 people east of the capital Skopje.
Authorities said the club's license was obtained illegally, and that the premises lacked fire extinguishers and emergency exits, and that it was built with flammable materials.
State Prosecutor Ljupko Kochevski said that a total of 24 suspects are in custody, and three are still in hospital after the fire, which he said was caused by "a chain of inaction and illegal actions by officials".
The suspects include officials responsible for operating licenses, the owner of the club, a member of the band that played at the club, police officers and security guards who allowed minors and pyrotechnics to enter, he said.
This week, authorities have been inspecting nightclubs and cafes across the country for safety violations.