Brussels, 17 March 2025 (MIA) – The European Union has started evacuating burn victims from the deadly fire in a nightclub in the town of Kochani that killed 59 people and left 155 injured, the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) announced on Monday.

In the early hours of Sunday’s tragedy, the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre established contact with the civil protection authorities in North Macedonia to offer solidarity and support, said the press release.

North Macedonia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism requesting assistance to evacuate 15 patients suffering from severe burns. In a swift reaction, 9 European countries – Croatia, Greece, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Lithuania, Hungary, Luxembourg and Norway – made immediate offers of assistance via the mechanism.

Already, several patients have been evacuated to Hungary by Luxembourg and Romania is transporting patients to Lithuania. The EU is now coordinating the transportation of further patients to countries that have offered treatment.

“The EU remains in close contact with the national authorities in North Macedonia and stands ready to mobilise more assistance if needed,” said ECHO.

“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected. The EU stands in solidarity with the people of North Macedonia at this difficult time. I thank European countries for quickly offering treatment and assistance to the victims via our Civil Protection Mechanism,” said Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib.

MIA file photo