Kocani, North Macedonia

A fire at the Pulse nightclub in 2025 killed 63 and injured 193, making it the deadliest nightclub fire in Europe since 2015. Hospitals were severely ill-equipped, with some victims left lying in the street. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the nightclub operated illegally for years under a forged license. Authorities have arrested dozens, including former officials, but the public remains skeptical the full truth will come to light. Kocani is not for the faint of heart - safety concerns and a dysfunctional government make this a challenging place to call home.