North Macedonia is grappling with the loss of dozens of young lives after a weekend inferno at an overcrowded club in the eastern town of Kocani, precipitating seven days of mourning in the country.

Dozens of people were killed when a fire ripped through an illegal nightclub in North Macedonia's southern city of Kocani, prompting a bribery and corruption investigation that has led to the arrests of several local officials who allegedly allowed the club to remain open, authorities said Sunday.