At least 29 persons were dead, and several others were severely injured after a fire broke out during renovations at a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday.
According to USA Today, authorities in Istanbul are now investigating the cause of the fire.
Fire at a Nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey
Emergency responders swiftly converged on the nightclub's smoking entrance, which is situated on two floors underneath a 16-story residential building.
The Masquerade club, located in the city's Gayrettepe district, was closed for a month for renovations when the daytime fire erupted. The city governor's office said one injured person was in critical condition at a local hospital.
Manager of Nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey Detained
Speaking to reporters at the site, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul indicated that the victims of the fire were believed to be involved in the renovation work, the Associated Press reported.
According to BBC, eight people, including the club manager and an individual in charge of the renovations, were ordered detained in connection with the fire as investigations continue.
Three of them, including the manager, were reportedly detained, while others have had outstanding warrants for their arrest. Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu said the nightclub had not applied for the correct construction permit.
"There is no application 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," Imamoglu noted, as BBC reported.
Join the Conversation