Fifty-one people were killed and more than 100 injured when a fire broke out in a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday in the North Macedonian town of Kocani, Interior Minister Pance Toskovski said.
The fire was caused by “pyrotechnic devices” used during a concert, Toskovski said.
“Sparks caused fire … and fire spread through the discotheque,” he said.
Toshkovski said police have arrested one man, but did not provide details on his involvement.
A video from the event, verified by Reuters, shows a band playing on stage flanked by two flares firing white sparks into the air. The sparks set the ceiling alight above the band, who appear to step away as the video cuts.
Firefighters doused the charred and smoking entrance to the club, named ‘Pulse’, TV footage from a local broadcaster showed.