Serbia sends another plane to transport people injured in North Macedonia fire that killed dozens

Photo: Ministry of Defense

Responding to a request from the Government of North Macedonia, Serbia continues to provide assistance and evacuate those injured in a fire in Kocani, the Serbian Ministry of Defense announced on Monday.

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"For the purpose of medical evacuation, another CASA C-295 Serbian Army plane, with four doctors and four medical technicians, flew to North Macedonia. The plan is to evacuate 12 patients using that plane. We remind you that last night, 12 patients were also transported by a Serbia Army plane and they are receiving treatment at the Military-Medical Academy (VMA) and the Clinical Center of Serbia (in Belgrade)," a statement reads.

In addition to the plane, an ambulance with a medical team from the the Military Hospital in Nis, southern Serbia, has been sent to North Macedonia earlier today to transport patients who will be treated in that hospital.

Six VMA employees remain in North Macedonia - two surgeons, an anesthesiologist, an anesthetist and two medical technicians - in order to help with the treatment of those injured.

A Telegraf.rs crew is in Kocani, where they last night recorded distressing scenes.

At least 59 people died in the fire that broke out in the night between Saturday and Sunday in the Pulse night club in this North Macedonia town.

The youngest victim was only 14 years old. At least 1,500 people were injured and taken to hospitals in Kocani, Stip and Skopje. At the time the fire broke out, a band called DNA was on stage. Some of its members were among those who died, while the injured were taken to hospitals.

There were at least 500 people in the nightclub when the fire started. Videos are circulating on the internet showing people partying as sprinklers are activated near the stage. At one point, the sparks started reaching the ceiling, which then caught on fire.

The panicked guests tried to put out the blaze that was engulfing the roof with lightning speed.

According to North Macedonia's interior minister, the owner of the nightclub had a forged operating permit for the venue. So far, 15 people have been detained, including government officials, while some of the suspects were injured in the fire and are currently hospitalized. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of four more persons.

Witnesses of the horror say that what they saw was extremely shocking.

Serbia has declared March 18 a day of mourning for the Kocani victims.

Serbia on Sunday also sent medical teams and helicopters, which during the evening transported a number of seriously injured people from North Macedonia to Belgrade.

(Telegraf.rs)