Fire in central Istanbul kills 29 as rescue operation continues

• Authorities have yet to ascertain cause of fire.
• Fire has been extinguished, situation is in control.
• Deceased were employees of club: says Governor.

Istanbul Governorship said Tuesday at least 29 people lost their lives after a deadly fire erupted in the Turkish city’s nightclub injuring 1, prompting authorities to dispatch emergency help for the victims. 

Earlier, Daily Sabah reported that among the injured, seven of them were critical.

Authorities have yet to ascertain the cause of the fire in the 16-storey building on Gündoğdu Street in Gayrettepe Yıldız Posta Avenue.

Injured victims have been transported to local hospitals, the outlet reported.

Local media Hurriyet Daily further reported that the fire erupted during renovations at Masquerade nightclub on the ground floor.

Governor Davut Gül said that the deceased people were the employees of the club, adding that the building had a license from 1987 and that it had been renewed twice.

Officials have opened an investigation into the blaze and five people were ordered to be detained, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.

According to Anadolu Agency, firefighters, with 31 vehicles and 86 personnel, quickly extinguished the flames and brought the situation under control.

"Efforts by rescue teams are ongoing at the site of the incident," Governorship said.

The newly re-elected Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, said the club had not applied for the correct construction permit.

"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 said.

"May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives, and I wish a speedy recovery to our injured," he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.