The primary cause of death for Aleksandar Karadakoski, the 29-year-old who passed away in Lithuania, was burns to his respiratory tract, according to Nebojsa Nastov, director of the Clinic for Surgical Diseases “St. Naum Ohridski.”

Karadakoski was admitted to the hospital on March 16, where his condition deteriorated, necessitating artificial respiration and burn treatment.

Minister of Health Arben Taravari stated that Karadakoski was in the most critical condition among the 193 individuals injured in the disco fire, citing kidney failure, dialysis, 36% body burns, and 90% airway burns as contributing factors.

Nastov explained that the burns, covering 36% of his body, primarily affected the head, neck, and upper extremities, with second and third-degree depth, indicating the fire’s intensity.

A bronchoscopic examination revealed extensive damage to the respiratory tract from inhaled flame and smoke, confirmed by Lithuanian doctors during briefings with Macedonian anesthesiologists.

Karadakoski was transported to Lithuania via medical ambulance plane after nearly 24 hours at “St. Naum Ohridski.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is arranging the repatriation of Karadakoski’s body, with an autopsy to be conducted in Skopje, fully covered by the authorities, according to Minister Taravari.

Karadakoski was among 116 patients sent abroad for treatment following the Kochani disco fire.

Currently, 14 patients are hospitalized in Skopje, with five scheduled for discharge, while 69 remain in foreign hospitals, including three in critical condition.

Six more patients are expected to return from treatment abroad, two each from Bulgaria, Spain, and Hungary.