Viktor Orbán pledged that Hungary would remain a partner in the EU integration process of the western Balkan country.Continue reading
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó expressed his condolences on Sunday for the fire in North Macedonia and offered Hungary’s help in treating the injured, reported HVG.
“A terrible tragedy happened last night at a concert in the North Macedonian town of Kočani,” the Hungarian Foreign Minister wrote on his Facebook page.
“I called my colleague Timčo Mucunski (Foreign Minister of North Macedonia) to express my condolences on behalf of the Hungarian people, and informed him that Hungary is prepared to provide aid to nineteen injured persons and is ready to send the necessary air transport,” he added.
The government of North Macedonia declared a week of mourning on Sunday after
a fire broke out in a nightclub overnight, killing 59 people and injuring 155 others.
In the chaos caused by the fire at 3am on Sunday, several people were trampled to death as they fled. Several members of the R&B band DNK, as well as backing musicians and vocalists, were hospitalized. According to the director of the hospital in Kočani, the victims are between 14 and 24 years old and several of the injured are in serious condition, so the death toll could rise.
A tragic and heartbreaking day for our people.
There are no words to ease the pain for this devastating loss. My thoughts are with the families of the victims—I wish them strength in this unimaginable grief and sorrow. I send my hopes for a quick recovery for those who are… pic.twitter.com/Qj2Slyf9Vr
— Timco Mucunski (@TimcoMucunski) March 16, 2025
Around twenty suspects have been identified in connection with the case, fifteen of whom have been arrested, some of them among the fatalities, others among the injured.
Another article of HVG states that
among those arrested is the concert’s chief organizer, who the Minister of Internal Affairs said was directly responsible for the tragedy.
The suspects include a former state secretary in charge, as well as the former Head of the Directorate for Defense and some of his staff.
The fire is believed to have been caused by pyrotechnic devices used at the concert, which quickly set the roof alight. Panche Toshkovski, Minister of Internal Affairs, said that the club did not have a license to operate such devices. Magyar Nemzet reported that Public Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski said that the converted industrial hall did not have sufficient exits and fire hydrants.
I am devastated, this is the worst day of my life. I am heartbroken (…) this is the culmination of an evil system that is eating up our hopes and dreams. We either beat it or let it beat us,”
said the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, who promised to fully investigate the disaster and prosecute all those responsible. After the tragedy, not only Hungary but also Turkey, Greece, Albania, Serbia, and Bulgaria, offered their help.
Via HVG; Featured picture: MTI/Kocsis Zoltán