Skopje, 17 March 2025 (MIA) – Over 140 people injured in a fire that broke out in a nightclub in the town of Kochani in the early hours of Sunday have been admitted to hospitals, including 90 who are in hospitals in the country and 44 that have been transported to hospitals abroad. Eight people with injuries should be transported to Croatia and Romania, said Sasho Klekovski, Director of the Health Insurance Fund (HIF).

Klekovski said 20 patients are treated at the clinical center in Skopje, 20 at the September 8 General City Hospital, 21 at the St Naum of Ohrid hospital, 20 at the Shtip hospital, seven at the Kochani hospital and two at the clinic of toxicology. Patients are also being treated at two private hospitals in Skopje, Adzibadem Sistina and Zhan Mitrev.

Forty-four patients have been admitted at hospitals abroad including 17 in Serbia, 14 in Bulgaria, nine in Turkey, and four in Greece. “The figures may change because the injured are being transferred to other hospitals,” stressed Klekovski.

He also noted that the patients transported to hospitals abroad are in stable condition.

Klekovski added that eight more patients will be taken abroad either late Sunday or early Monday, four in Croatia and Romania each. There is an opportunity for injured patients to be transferred in Slovenia and Hungary, four each, and six in Austria.

He mentioned that a Health Ministry Crisis HQ is operating at the clinical center in Skopje, which is in excellent coordination with the Interior Ministry and the Foreign Ministry.

“All patients are under observation and a council of doctors is deciding what steps to be taken next,” Klekovski said.

A team from Belgrade’s Military Medical Academy arrived yesterday evening. Medical teams from the Czech Republic, Israel and Belgium are also expected to arrive.

“All the injured have been taken care of the best we can,” the head of the Health Insurance Fund said.

MIA file photo