KOCANI, North Macedonia >> As families gathered at a hospital for updates, Tomco Stojanov already knew his son’s devastating fate: 25-year-old Andrej died trying to save others in a nightclub fire that left dozens dead in North Macedonia, including many trampled during a desperate bid to escape.

“Thank you for your condolences, but my pain is incurable. The wound is incurable,” Stojanov said, holding up a photograph of his son, clean-shaven and wearing a suit jacket.

North Macedonia is grappling with the loss of dozens of young lives in Sunday’s nightclub inferno in the eastern town of Kocani, and trying to hold those responsible to account and prevent another calamity.

— The Associated Press