A total of 59 people lost their lives and 155 were injured in a fire that flared up during a concert by the popular band DNK in North Macedonia last night. The fire erupted at the Pulse club in the town of Koçani, 65 km from the Bulgarian border. Some of the injured have already been transported to Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Serbia for treatment. They are being flown to Bulgaria by the "Spartan" military aircraft. Hospitals in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna are admitting citizens of North Macedonia who need medical treatment. Bulgaria is ready to accept more people injured in the Koçani fire.
The government in Skopje has declared seven days of national mourning.
Throughout the day on Sunday, European Union leaders expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of North Macedonia.
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, wrote in X: "I am heartbroken by the loss of so many young people in the terrible fire in Koçani. My thoughts go out to all the families of the victims of this tragedy," adding that "the EU stands in solidarity with the people of North Macedonia at this moment of grief".
"Europe mourns with you on this tragic day," European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also wrote on social media. The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kalas, also stressed that the EU shared the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia.
Bulgarian state institutions reacted quickly, offering immediate help and assuring that our country felt the pain of North Macedonia.
Speaking to RSM President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Bulgarian head of state Rumen Radev expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. "Bulgaria has offered its help in the form of medical treatment to the victims of the fire in the Republic of North Macedonia," Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov posted on Facebook. The Prime Minister has ordered full readiness to provide medical assistance in our clinical facilities.
Other countries in the region have also offered their support and assistance to North Macedonia.
The inaugural International Military Competition, 'Best Warrior', is set to take place on 25 and 26 June 2025 at the Vasil Levski National Military University in Veliko Tarnovo . The tournament is organised by the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Staff..
Sunny weather is in the forecast for Wednesday. It will be hot in the plains and lowlands around and after noon. There will be a light northerly and northwesterly wind, turning to moderate in Eastern Bulgaria. Maximum temperatures will range between..
In cooperation with the Bulgarian Cultural and Spiritual Centre “Sveta Sofia” in the Balearic Islands, the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Valencia will hold mobile consular days in the town of Santanyí on 13 and 14 September 2025. According to an..
A large fire stretching about 10 kilometers is burning east of the town of Karnobat, Burgas district, reported the mayor of Karnobat Municipality..
At a Sofia City Council (SCC) briefing, municipal officials who recently left the We Continue the Change (PP) party declared they would not be complicit..
A vibrant and free-entry event will mark the beginning of the summer mountain tourist season in the Rhorope town of Chepelare. Starting on June 27 at 6:00..
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder