Sofia, 18 March 2025 (MIA) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev offered his condolences Tuesday to the families of the victims in the Kochani fire and signed a book of condolences in the Embassy of North Macedonia in Sofia.

Radev said Bulgaria is ready to offer treatment to more injured and is waiting on the Macedonian authorities to say whether there is a need to accept ten more people.

Currently, there are 14 injured receiving treatment in Bulgarian hospitals. They were transported with a Bulgarian Air Force Spartan aircraft and ambulance vehicles.

“The Spartan aircraft and the medical teams are on standby, so we will continue to provide assistance. Bulgaria is ready and will continue to help with everything necessary. The most important thing is that this tragedy shows that people from both sides of the border maybe will have to rely on each other, not only in days of trouble like today, but for our shared European future,” the Bulgarian president said.

Radev thanked the Bulgarian medical teams and the military personnel for the speedy reaction and professionalism in the transport of injured and the provided medical assistance.

Macedonian Ambassador to Sofia Agneza Rusi Popovska, who welcomed the Bulgarian President to the Embassy, said the Health Minister of North Macedonia, Arben Taravari, and Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski, are expected to arrive in Sofia on Tuesday to visit the injured Macedonian nationals who are being treated in Bulgarian hospitals.

Bulgaria declared Tuesday a National Day of Mourning in respect to the victims of the fire in Kochani and in solidarity with the people of North Macedonia.

A blood drive has also been organized in Sofia, where according to local media reports, over 120 people have donated blood within the first two hours.

Photo: BTA