Solidarity and condolences to the friends and families of those killed or injured in two recent nightclub disasters. All too familiar tales of blocked fire escapes and unsafe buildings.
Kocani fire, North Macedonia, 15 March 2025
'Thousands of people have protested in the North Macedonian town of Kocani, demanding justice and action against corruption after a nightclub fire killed 59 people, many of them teenagers... The Pulse nightclub was packed with fans watching DNK, a popular hip-hop band, when sparks from flares apparently set a patch of ceiling ablaze. About 20 people have been detained for questioning over the disaster, including the nightclub owner and some former government ministers. Many in Kocani believe that corruption had allowed the improvised venue to operate with inadequate safety measures' (BBC) The exit from the club was locked and people trying to escape through windows were blocked by bars. During protests a bar believed to belong to the nightclub owner was smashed up and his car was overturned (see Wikipedia)
Santo Domingo, 8 April 2025
More than 200 people have died after a roof collapsed at the Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Among those killed was the singer Rubby Perez. 'Many are pointing the finger of blame at a fire at the nightclub around two years ago. Some fear the blaze structurally weakened the site or that any repairs carried out were insufficient or not up to code' (BBC).
See previously:
Nightclub fires in Brazil (2013) and France (1970) - with reflections on latter by Guy Debord
Nightclub fires in China (2008) and Argentina (2005)
Nightclub fire in Russia (2009)
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