A catastrophic fire tore through an Istanbul nightclub undergoing renovations on Tuesday, claiming the lives of at least 29 people in a tragic incident that has left the city reeling. Officials and reports indicate that several individuals, including managers of the club, were swiftly detained for questioning as investigations into the cause of the deadly blaze began.
The fire erupted around midday at the Masquerade nightclub, which was closed for renovations at the time. The venue is located on the ground and basement floors of a 16-story residential building in the upscale Besiktas district on the European side of Istanbul, bisected by the famous Bosphorus strait.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul, who rushed to the scene, informed reporters that the cause of the fire remained under active investigation. However, preliminary evidence suggested that the victims were among the workers involved in the renovation efforts at the nightclub.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, authorities swiftly apprehended five people for questioning, including three workplace officials, the nightclub manager, and the manager overseeing the renovations, according to Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.
Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu stated that authorities were conducting a comprehensive inspection of the entire 16-story building to assess its structural safety and integrity, which may have been compromised by the intense flames and smoke.
Numerous firefighting crews and emergency medical teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, battling to extinguish the blaze and provide aid to any survivors. At least one person was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, the Istanbul governor’s office confirmed in a statement.
Haunting images from the site showed the charred and smoke-blackened entrance to the nightclub, which occupies two floors underneath the high-rise residential building in the city’s trendy Gayrettepe district.
Officials have vowed to thoroughly examine the incident and take measures to prevent such catastrophes from occurring in the future, ensuring the safety of workers and businesses alike.
(With Inputs From AP)
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