In a deeply somber atmosphere, Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid presided over the funeral service for the 59 victims of the devastating nightclub fire that occurred in the early hours of last Sunday in the town of Kočani, North Macedonia. During his moving eulogy, the Archbishop called upon everyone to pray for the souls of the deceased and for the comfort of their grieving families.
The tragedy has shaken not only Kočani—a town of 25,000 residents located approximately 100 kilometers east of Skopje—but also neighboring towns and cities such as Štip, Oblesevo, Strumica, and Probištip. Of the 59 victims, 31 were from Kočani, amplifying the grief in this tight-knit community.
Funeral processions at Kočani’s cemetery were marked by intense sorrow, with many relatives overcome by emotion at the sight of caskets arriving continuously for burial. According to the Athens News Agency (ANA-MPA) correspondent in Kočani, Sofia Papadopoulou, several mourners required first aid, and some had to be transported by Red Cross ambulances to the hospital due to emotional collapse.
In the wake of the tragedy, North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated in a televised interview that over the past three days, authorities had conducted spot inspections at around 60 to 70 establishments across the country. The findings revealed that at least half lacked proper licenses or failed to meet essential safety standards.
Mickoski attributed the Kočani fire to systemic corruption and announced a national campaign to combat it, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to ensure public safety and accountability.
