The autopsy of 59 victims of the fire in Pulse nightclub in Kochani shows that their death was violent and occurred as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
In five of the victims, the autopsy opinion from the Institute of Forensic Medicine also found violent death, but which occurred from suffocation from pressure on the chest or as a result of lack of air and oxygen in the surrounding environment.
The autopsy of three of the victims who died during treatment also found violent death, which occurred due to acute lung failure from carbon monoxide intoxication, and in one due to third-degree burns to the head and body.
The prosecution also produced a written response from Forensic Medicine, which it said contained answers to questions about how much carbon monoxide is present in the blood and how quickly death occurs from carbon monoxide asphyxiation, what are specific and non-specific indications, and what is the difference between asphyxiation and carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as whether they would have been saved if they had undergone oxygen therapy at the scene and in hospitals.
The fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kochani broke out on March 16, 2025, during a performance by the DNK music band, and is one of the deadliest tragedies in the country’s recent history. The trial is being led by Judge DijanaGruevskaIlievska, and the prosecution is represented by a team of 15 public prosecutors.
