Fire at Istanbul nightclub kills at least 29, several others injured; five detained for questioning

At least 29 people have been killed and around 13 others were injured after a fire broke out at a nightclub in central Istanbul, on Tuesday (Apr 2), said the city governor’s office. The incident reportedly took place around the afternoon when the building was undergoing renovations and five people will be detained for questioning. As per reports,five people, including the managers of the nightclub, were detained for questioning.

What happened?

The death toll rose from 15 which was reported earlier by the city mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, following a series of statements issued by the Istanbul governor’s office.

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The fire reportedly broke out during daytime renovation and repair work at the 16-storey building in Istanbul’s Besiktas.

Out of the 13 injured, seven were reportedly seriously wounded during the fire at a Masquerade nightclub which occupies two floors underneath a 16-storey residential building in the city’s Gayrettepe district.

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The fire broke out at around 12:47 pm (local time), said the Istanbul Governorship, in a statement, due to some renovation work in the entertainment centre which was operating in the basement of the 16-storey building.

Images from the site show flames and a column of thick smoke emitting from the upper floors of the building. The officials said that the fire has since been extinguished and those injured have been taken to nearby hospitals.

Response to the fire

Firefighters responded with 31 vehicles and 86 personnel after the blaze was reported, said the governor’s office.

Governor of Istanbul Davut Gul told reporters at the scene that the cause of the fire was under investigation and the victims are believed to be involved in the renovation work.

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The authorities also issued arrest warrants for five people for questioning, including managers of the club and one person in charge of the renovations, said Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, according to the state media. Additionally, Tunc said three prosecutors are investigating the blaze.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Istanbul said authorities were inspecting the entire building to assess its safety.

(With inputs from agencies)