Kocani: A massive fire ripped through a nightclub in North Macedonia's eastern town of Kocani on Sunday morning, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 100 others, local officials reported.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski informed reporters that the blaze broke out at around 2:35 a.m. during a concert by a local pop group at the Pulse nightclub. He stated that 'pyrotechnics caused the roof to catch fire'.

Videos captured the chaos inside the club, with attendees fleeing through smoke while musicians urged the crowd to escape rapidly. The injured were transported to hospitals nationwide, with numerous individuals suffering severe burns. Multiple volunteer organizations participated in the rescue efforts.

Health Minister Arben Taravari confirmed 118 people were hospitalized, noting that neighboring countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, and Greece, have offered assistance. This incident marks the worst tragedy in recent memory for the landlocked nation, which has a population of less than 2 million.