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Thirteen arrested over North Macedonia nightclub fire which killed 59 people

A photo of a scorched sign on a building reading 'pulse'.

A massive fire broke out at a nightclub in Kocani on March 16.  (Reuters: Alexandros Avramidis)

In short: 

Thirteen people including a former government minister have been arrested in North Macedonia over a nightclub blaze which killed 59 people. 

Authorities have said the club's licence was obtained illegally, and that the venue lacked fire extinguishers and emergency exits and was made of flammable materials.

What's next? 

Authorities have been inspecting nightclubs and cafes around the country this week for safety violations.

Thirteen people including a former government minister have been arrested in North Macedonia on Friday over a nightclub blaze, believed to have been caused by pyrotechnics, that killed 59 people including six minors.

The incident, in which another 197 people were injured, has shattered Kocani, a town of 25,000 people east of the capital Skopje.

Authorities have said the club's licence was obtained illegally, and that the venue lacked fire extinguishers and emergency exits and was made of flammable materials.

State prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski said a total of 24 suspects were being held and three were still in hospital after the fire, which he said had been caused by a "chain of omissions and illegal actions by officials".

The suspects include officials responsible for the operating licences, the club owner, a member of a band that played in the club, police officers, and security guards who let in minors and pyrotechnics, he said.

Authorities have been inspecting nightclubs and cafes around the country this week for safety violations.

Reuters