ISTANBUL (AP) — The fire at an Istanbul nightclub during renovations on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people, according to officials and reports. Several individuals, including club managers, were apprehended for interrogation.
The Istanbul governor’s office reported that at least one person was receiving medical care at a hospital.
The Masquerade nightclub, which had shut down for renovations, was situated on the ground and basement levels of a 16-story residential building in the Besiktas district on the European side of the city split by the Bosphorus. The fire was put out.
Gov. Davut Gul informed the press at the location that the cause of the fire was being investigated and the casualties were thought to be connected to the renovation work.
As per private NTV television, some of the victims perished in hospitals where they had been rushed by ambulances.
Authorities took six individuals, including club managers and a person responsible for the renovations, into custody for questioning, as stated by Gul’s office.
The nightclub had closed for the holy month of Ramadan, and its proprietors were attempting to finish the renovation work in time for the upcoming Eid holiday, which comes after the fasting month, NTV reported.
As a safety measure, police closed off the area and cut off power and natural gas to the neighborhood.
Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu stated that authorities were examining the entire building to evaluate its safety.
He mentioned that numerous firefighting and medical teams were sent to the location.
The mayor indicated that the nightclub had not obtained the necessary permit for construction and renovations.
