Former ministers among the accused of fire in Macedonian disk

North Macedonia authorities have expanded an investigation into a fire at a nightclub in Kocani, in which 61 people were killed, on several former ministers and state officials.

The Ministry of the Interior states in a statement published on Saturday night that criminal charges have been filed in coordination with the plaintiffs against additional 19 people for « serious offenses against public security ».

They were under investigation over a fire that broke out on March 16 during a hip-hop concert at a club in Kocani in the east of the country.

In one of the most deadly fires in Europe, 61 people were killed and more than 200 were injured.

Among the 19 new judgments, according to the prosecutor’s claims, there are former ministers of the economy, ministers of the Ministry and officials of the Protection and Rescue Directorate.

Everyone has been in functions since 2012, when the club was open, until the fire broke out in March.

They « did not act at all in accordance with the regulations on protection measures and thus ended up the lives of people and property, » the State Attorney’s Office said.

The fire is believed to have caused fireworks on stage during the concert, which caused Stampedo toward the exit.

Now a total of 52 people and three companies have been accused.

Police arrested 33 people in the first stages of the investigation, including seven police officers, a former economy minister and ministry officials and three former mayors of Kocan.