Bust of DNK drummer Gjorgji Gjorgjiev‑Džoche unveiled in Strumica
The bust sits on a drum decorated with 63 stars honoring those killed in the Puls nightclub fire on March 16, 2025.
A bust honoring the drummer of the band DNK, Gjorgji Gjorgjiev‑Džoche, who died in the Puls nightclub fire in Kocani on March 16, 2025, has been installed in Strumica. The memorial is mounted on a drum, and the drum surface features 63 stars to represent each person who lost their life in the blaze.
Memorial placed on a drum, 63 stars for the victims
The sculpture intentionally uses the drum as its base to mark the musician’s instrument and role in the band. The 63 stars on the drum are an explicit visual reference to the total number of victims from the Kocani fire.
At the unveiling, Gjorgji’s father, Dragi Gjorgjiev, addressed those gathered and said: "We lost a child who was not only ours but also Strumica's, and therefore I express gratitude to all who helped make this happen. May this monument serve as a reminder that on March 16, 2025, in Kocani 63 lives were extinguished and will not be forgotten. Let this be the last tragic case and a reminder that care and inspections are needed for greater safety of our children in public venues."
The memorial in Strumica joins other gestures of remembrance that have appeared around the country since the deadly fire. Organizers and family members said the choice of a drum was meant both as a personal tribute to Gjorgjiev‑Džoche and as a public commemoration of the victims.
Family members called on authorities and venue operators to strengthen safety controls in public entertainment spaces, saying the memorial should remind officials and the public of the consequences of lapses in oversight.
Photo: СДК.МК)
