Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded today (March 20, 2025) at the Kotaçi city cemetery in North Macedonia during the funerals of victims from the deadly fire that broke out at a nightclub last Sunday (March 16, 2025). The nation has been plunged into mourning as families and friends grapple with the loss of their loved ones. Mothers wailed in despair, fathers stood in stunned silence, relatives wore T-shirts bearing the faces of their loved ones, and young people held flowers in trembling hands. Kotaçi, where the tragic blaze claimed 59 lives and left dozens hospitalized with severe burns, is grieving deeply. Many family members collapsed under the weight of seeing the coffins arrive one after another, requiring immediate medical assistance or transportation to hospitals by Red Cross ambulances.
Twenty-four graves, each marked with white paper bearing the names of the victims, now serve as a permanent reminder of the tragedy that has outraged public sentiment across North Macedonia. Police took early measures to ensure proper organization for the large crowds expected, while Red Cross teams distributed bottled water along the procession route and remained on standby to provide aid. Ali Samet, head of crisis operations for the Red Cross, recounted his team’s efforts since the disaster struck, including psychological support and emergency medical care. ‘This was an exceptionally tragic event,’ he remarked, describing the agony of families arriving at hospitals hoping not to find their loved ones among the dead or severely injured.
As the final victims were laid to rest and mourners gradually departed, Kotaçi’s streets fell silent once more. Businesses remain shuttered in mourning, and residents walk somberly, reluctant to speak about the catastrophe. One young man vowed, ‘We will never forget them or what happened.’ Meanwhile, faithful continue to gather in churches to pray for the souls of the victims and light candles in their memory.