Fire At Istanbul Nightclub Leaves At Least 29 People Dead

At least 29 people have died after a fire at a nightclub in Istanbul broke out on Tuesday during renovations.

The Istanbul’s governor’s office has said in a statement that at least one person was being treated at a hospital.

Several people, including managers of the club, were detained for questioning.

The Masquerade nightclub, which was closed for renovations, was on the ground and basement floors of a 16-story residential building in the Besiktas district on the European side of the city bisected by the Bosphorus.

Private NTV television reported that some of the victims died in hospitals where they were rushed in ambulances.

Reporters at the scene were told by Gov. Davut Gul that the cause of the fire was under investigation and the victims were believed to be involved in the renovation work.

Six people were detained by authorities for questioning, including managers of the club and one person in charge of the renovations, Gul’s office said.

NTV reported that the nightclub was closed for the holy Muslim month of Ramadan and its owners were trying to complete the renovation work in time for next week’s Eid holiday, which follows the month of fasting.

The area was sealed of by police while power and natural gas to the neighborhood was cut off as a safety precaution.

Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said authorities were inspecting the entire building to assess its safety.

He said several firefighting and medical teams were dispatched to the scene.

The nightclub had not obtained the necessary permit to undertake construction and renovations, the mayor said.

Melissa Enoch

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