A footballer died after trying to save revellers in a nightclub fire.
Andrej Lazarov, 25, died in the fire at the Pulse club in Kocani, North Macedonia.
At least 59 people perished in the horrific incident while more than 155 were injured, according to officials.
Lazarov was a player for Macedonian First Football League club FC Shkupi.
The club wrote: ‘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.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of Sunday at the Pulse club in Kocani, a town 100 kilometres east of the capital Skopje.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, including firefighters from surrounding towns, where more than 1,000 concertgoers had gathered at the venue for a performance by hip-hop duo DNK.
The concert began at around midnight and the fire is reported to have started at approximately 3am local time on Sunday, according to online media outlet SDK.
Social media footage shows huge flames engulfing the nightclub, with large plumes of smoke billowing into the air.
Clips from inside the venue show the use of two pyrotechnics during the performance, known as stage jets – a type of indoor fireworks used during concerts.
Very shortly after their deployment flames are clearly visible above the band, which quickly spread.
Speaking outside the local police station, minister of the interior Pance Toskovski said the fire was probably caused by sparks from the pyrotechnics hitting the ceiling, which was made of a highly flammable material.
He added: ‘At the moment of activating the so-called sprinklers, the sparks caught the ceiling that was made of easily flammable material after which for a very short period of time the fire spread across the whole discotheque, creating a thick smoke.’
Footage verified by the BBC also shows people inside the club trying to extinguish the flames on the ceiling, with the crowd milling around unsure how to proceed.
According to witnesses, several people were subsequently crushed to death during a ‘stampede’, Skopje-based radio station Lider reported.
‘According to the data we have by now, 51 persons lost their lives and more than 100 persons are injured,’ Mr Toskovski said.
Most of the people who have died and are injured are said to be between the ages of 14 and 25.
The wounded were transported to the local hospital in the town and to facilities in the town of Stip, 30 kilometres to the south, while helicopters ferried some of the injured to hospitals in the capital Skopje.
The director of the Kocani hospital, Kristina Serafimova, said 30 people were being treated for injuries at the hospital while another 60 were being transferred to another health facility, news site Klix Vijesti reported.
Video posted by Lider shows the burnt-out remains of the nightclub on Sunday after sunrise, with a gaping hole in the roof clearly visible.
Other videos published by media in the Balkan country show the entrance to the building blackened by flames.
North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, called it a ‘difficult and very sad day’ and asked for unity and support for the families of the victims and the injured while the government determines the cause of the fire.
In a post on Facebook, he said: ‘With deep sorrow I received the news of the terrible tragedy in Kochani.
‘This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia. The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, and the pain of families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable.
‘In these moments of deep sorrow, our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery, and to the families of the deceased – strength to bear this unimaginable loss.
‘The people and the government will do everything in their power to alleviate their pain a little and help them through these most difficult moments.’
Lider also reported that the Ministry of the Interior is questioning anyone connected to the concert.
The UK ambassador to North Macedonia Matthew Lawson said on X: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire in Kochani that claimed the lives of 51 people, many of whom were young.
‘Our hearts go out to the families and friends affected by this immense loss. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.’
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