The heartbroken families of the 62 victims burnt to death in a horror inferno at a North Macedonia nightclub took to the streets on Saturday evening to demand justice.
They were part of an estimated 5,000-strong crowd who marched through the streets of Kocani, a town 100 kilometres east of the country’s capital Skopje.
Relatives and parents of the Pulse nightclub fire victims held aloft photographs of their loved ones who perished in the blaze as they protested ‘selective justice’.
The fire broke out in the early hours of March 16 this year as hundreds of people gathered to watch a performance by popular hip-hop duo DNK.
The blaze claimed the lives of 62 people and leaving over 200 injured.
The concert began around midnight and the fire started at approximately 3am local time.
Photographs and footage taken on the night showed huge flames engulfing the nightclub, with large plumes of smoke billowing into the air.
Clips from inside the venue showed the use of two pyrotechnics during the performance, known as stage jets – a type of indoor fireworks used during concerts.
Hundreds of protestors take to the streets of Kocani, North Macedonia, to demand justice for the victims of the Pulse nightclub fire in March this year
Relatives and parents of the 62 people killed in the blaze hold aloft photographs of their late loved ones
Flames surge under the roof of the Pulse nightclub, where 500 concertgoers had gathered to watch a performance by popular hip-hop duo DNK
Very shortly after their deployment flames are clearly visible above the band, which quickly spread.
As the flames began to engulf the venue, hundreds frantically ran towards the exits.
Andrej Gjorgieski, the lead singer of DNK, selflessly rushed back into open flames to save several of his young fans after his band performed at the venue just hours before.
Footage shared on social media showed chaos inside the club as the roof was engulfed by flames.
Speaking to The Independent, Andrej’s manager Spasoski said that the singer could have escaped the fire but chose to turn around to help others.
‘I have never met such a good and humble person in my life’, he said.
Fans have praised the singer on social media for his heroic act.
One wrote: ‘To run back into an inferno not once but twice to save as many as you could… Heroic isn’t enough.
Two protestors hold photos of loved ones lost in the Pulse nightclub fire as they march in Kocani, the town in which the fire took place
Huge flames engulf the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, in the early hours of March 16
Flames rapidly spread across the ceiling of the nightclub as terrified concertgoers watch on
A map showing the location of Kocani, the site of the nightclub fire, which is around 100 kilometres east of the North Macedonian capital Skopje
The march in Kocani on May 17, 2025, two months after the original tragedy unfolded, is taking place under the motto ‘The system kills’
Three women clutch framed photographs of those they lost in the horrific nightclub fire
DNK, a hip-hop duo popular in North Macedonia, were playing to fans at Club Pulse when the fire broke out – Andrej Gjorgieski (left), the lead singer, lost his life after selflessly returning to the venue to help save others
‘Andrej your vocals and lyrics will live on forever but it is your humanitarianism and selflessness until the very end that is an example to us all. Rest in Peace’.
Another of the victims was footballer Andrej Lazarov, 25, who is said to have died after heroically trying to help others to safety.
Lazarov played for Macedonian First Football League club FC Shkupi.
Today his club paid tribute and said: ‘With deep sorrow, we announce that our footballer Andrej Lazarov was among the victims of the tragic fire in Kočani. As the heroic person he was, Lazarov lost his life while trying to help others escape the flames.
‘During his courageous act, he was overcome by smoke. His bravery and humanity in those final moments will always be remembered.
‘This is an immense loss for our club, his teammates, and the football community. Words cannot express the pain we feel during this tragedy.’
Lazarov was a former youth international for Macedonia and spent time playing in Croatia for just over a year before joining Shkupi in September.
