Huge fire tears through nightclub killing at least 29 people
The number of the victims is likely to rise.
At least 29 have been killed and several others critically wounded in an inferno at a nightclub in Turkey.
Flames engulfed the 16-storey building on Yıldız Posta Street in central Istanbul, on the European side of the city bisected by the Bosphorus.
The blaze happened during daytime repair work, mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said on Tuesday.
It started on the second floor of the high-rise where the nightclub was based, and spread upwards.
The number of people killed in the incident was initially put at 15, but it was later updated to 25 and then 27, and now stands at 29.
Reports suggest at least eight people have been rushed to hospital, with seven of them in critical condition.
Multiple fire brigades were deployed to the site in the Besiktas district where the fire was raging.
Authorities detained five people for questioning, these include three workplace officials, the nightclub manager and the manager of the renovations.
Governor Davut Gul told reporters that the cause was under investigation, and the victims were believed to be involved in the renovation work.
It is not clear whether the victims were contractors or employees of the nightclub.
He said: ‘Treatment of our wounded are continuing in hospitals. All our friends are here. Our condolences to all of us.’
Tributes have poured in from leaders in Turkey and Istanbul, including from Mr Imamoglu, who posted on social media: ‘May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives, and I wish a speedy recovery to our injured.’
President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is aware of the tragedy following a phone call with interior minister Ali Yerlikaya.
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