Fire at Istanbul nightclub renovation kills at least 29 people

Duvar English

On April 2, at least 29 people died and one severly injured in a fire that broke out in an entertainment venue under a 16-storey building in the central Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, according to the governor's office.

An investigation into the incident was launched, the city's governor's office said in a statement. The cause of the fire that was spread in the ground floor of the 13-story building has been still unknown.

Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu stated that the fire was extinguished and said "We hope that the death rate will not increase," in the scene.

İmamoğlu said, "There is no application for renovation or construction license. It is in an area that is not visible because it is two floors below. An illegal modification was made."

The club, closed for month-long renovation, occupies two basement floors beneath a 16-storey residential building. Footage showed white and black smoke billowing from the basement floors and flames rising to the third floor of the building. Corridors leading to the club's entrance were completely charred.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül stated that those who killed and injured were working in the renovations. 

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced on his social media account that a detention warrant was issued for a total of five suspects, including three people in charge of the workplace, the responsible manager and one person responsible for the renovation.