Quick coordination and on-the-ground efforts allowed AP to secure the first images and video of a massive fire that tore through a nightclub in North Macedonia, killing dozens of people.
Boris Grdanoski, AP’s photographer in North Macedonia, alerted Central Eastern Europe News Director Amer Cohadzic before immediately heading to the scene in the small town of Kocani. Within minutes, AP moved an alert and a text story from stringer Konstantin Testorides. That was followed by late-night footage of firefighters battling the blaze and, later, daylight video of rescue operations.
Grdanoski filed still photos, while video journalist Florent Bajrami and photographer Visar Kryeziu delivered an unmatched LIVE shot from outside the nightclub.
Sarajevo-based video journalist Eldar Emric and photographer Armin Durgut, along with Belgrade video journalist Zenel Zhinipotoku, set up another LIVE shot from outside the hospital, providing the first reactions from the parents of teenagers who had been at the club.
In the following days, AP was first to cover the riots in Kocani after the government announced the nightclub had been operating with a forged permit. AP also provided the only LIVE footage of the mass funeral held for the victims.
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