More than 20 people have died in a fire at an Istanbul nightclub. The authorities suspect that the fire broke out during renovation work in the restaurant, which is currently closed.
At least 29 people died in the rooms of a nightclub in Istanbul. One person is being treated for serious injuries in a hospital, reports the state news agency Anadolu, citing the office of Istanbul Governor Davut Gül. The governor’s office subsequently published ever-increasing casualty figures as many people succumbed to their serious injuries in hospital.
The fire broke out around midday on the lower floors of a 16-story building that was used as a nightclub. The building is located in Gayretteppe, a neighborhood in the Besiktas district in the European part of the metropolis.
According to initial findings, the fire broke out during repair work; the fire department only had it under control hours later. Flames and thick columns of smoke could be seen on television images. The exact reason and the identity of the victims are still unclear. The Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on the online service X that an investigation into the fire had been initiated.
Several responsible arrested
Authorities suspect that the victims were involved in the renovation work. Authorities have detained five people for questioning, including the club’s manager and a person in charge of renovations, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was only re-elected on Sunday, took a picture of the scene of the accident. Even before the governor’s office announced the interim death toll of 25, he said: “Let’s hope there aren’t more victims.”
Uwe Lueb, ARD Istanbul, tagesschau, April 2nd, 2024 3:00 p.m