29 people die in a fire in downtown Istanbul while rescue efforts continue
The Istanbul Governorship said on Tuesday that at least 29 people had died after a fatal fire broke out in a nightclub in the Turkish city, wounding one and forcing rescue workers to be called in to assist the wounded.
It was earlier reported by Daily Sabah that seven of the injured were in critical condition.
The reason of the fire at the 16-story building on Gündoğdu Street in Gayrettepe Yıldız Posta Avenue is yet unknown to the authorities.
The publication stated that injured individuals had been sent to nearby hospitals.
Hurriyet Daily, a local media outlet, also said that the fire started during bottom floor renovations at Masquerade nightclub.
Governor Davut Gül said that the individuals who had passed away were workers at the club, noting that the building’s license dates back to 1987 and had been renewed twice.
According to Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, five persons were ordered to be imprisoned and an inquiry into the fire was launched.
Firefighters using 31 trucks and 86 staff swiftly put out the fire and got the situation under control, according to the Anadolu Agency.
Governorship stated, “Rescue teams are still working at the scene of the incident.”
Ekrem Imamoglu, the recently re-elected mayor of Istanbul, claimed the club had not submitted the proper application for a building authorization.
“There is no application [to the local municipality] for a renovation or a construction regarding the place and as it was two floors down from the ground level, it [the work] wasn’t visible,” he stated.
He said on X, the previous Twitter platform, “May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives, and I wish a speedy recovery to our injured.”
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