The victims of the devastating nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia, were laid to rest on March 20, with thousands gathering in silence to pay their respects. The blaze, which erupted on March 16 during a concert by hip-hop group DNK, claimed 59 lives, most of them young people.

The nightclub, which lacked basic safety measures and a valid operating permit, was officially packed with around 500 attendees when the fire broke out, but according to unofficial information, there were over 1,000 concertgoers. Public outrage has grown as investigations reveal regulatory failures under the Ministry of Economy’s jurisdiction.

The Ministry of Health has announced the names of those who died. Of the 59 victims, 31 were from Kocani, a small town of 25,000 people. Victims include six minors aged 16 and 17. The oldest victim was 48.

Singer Andrej Gjorgjievski, the vocalist of DNK, was buried in Skopje, where many also gathered to mourn. At Macedonia Square, residents placed flowers, lit candles, and prayed for the injured. Funerals were also held in other towns.

The government appealed for media restraint during the funerals. Security forces ensured order at the cemetery, while Red Cross teams were on standby to assist grieving families.

Medical officials reported that ten of the most seriously injured remain in critical condition, while 101 patients are receiving treatment abroad.

Meanwhile, police have expanded an investigation into the club’s operations. Former Kocani mayors Nikolco Iliev, Ratko Dimitrovski and Ljupcho Papazov have been detained as part of the inquiry.

Violent protests erupted in Kocani on March 17, one day after the nightclub fire, with citizens demanding accountability for the disaster. Demonstrators gathered in the small city, throwing eggs at the municipal building and chanting for justice. Others stormed a café owned by the nightclub’s proprietor, destroying property in a show of anger and frustration.

Interior Minister Pance Toskovski confirmed a series of severe irregularities, including the nightclub’s operation in an unsuitable building, the absence of emergency exit doors, the illegal use of pyrotechnics and an insufficient number of fire extinguishers.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described the tragedy as a 'mass murder' that occurred due to bribery and corruption.