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Ten people died in a fire Wednesday evening at a hospital treating coronavirus patients in North Macedonia, authorities said.
The fire broke out following an explosion in a Covid-19 clinic in Tetovo in the northwest of the Balkan country, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who immediately headed to the town.
"A huge tragedy has occurred in the Tetovo Covid-19 centre," Zaev said on Twitter. "An explosion caused a fire. The fire was extinguished but many lives were lost."
At least 10 people died in the disaster, Health Minister Venko Filipce said.
"That number could rise," he said on Twitter, expressing his "profound condolences" to the victims' families.
The fire occurred as the former Yugoslav republic celebrated the 30th anniversary of its independence, with festivities in the capital Skopje, including a military parade.
The blaze destroyed part of the modular units recently built in front of the hospital to accommodate Covid patients.