04 Apr Five people detained after fire kills 29
A daytime fire at a central Istanbul nightclub closed for renovations, tragically claimed the lives of at least 29 people, prompting the detention of five individuals, including managers, for questioning.
Firefighters and emergency responders swiftly attended the Masquerade nightclub, situated across two floors beneath a 16-storey residential building in the Gayrettepe area of the Beşiktaş district on the European side of the city.
The Istanbul governor’s office confirmed that at least one individual was undergoing treatment in the hospital. In response to the incident, authorities cordoned off the vicinity, and as a precautionary measure, gas and electricity supply to the neighbourhood were shut down.
Governor Davut Gül stated that investigations into the fire’s cause were underway, with suspicions that the victims may have been involved in the ongoing renovation activities.
Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu said that comprehensive inspections of the entire building were in progress to evaluate its safety standards.
Reportedly, the nightclub had been closed for the duration of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, with owners hoping to finalise renovation works ahead of the upcoming Eid holiday, following the fasting period, as per reports by NTV.
However, it came to light that the nightclub had not acquired the permit for the construction and renovation works, according to the mayor’s announcement.
In response to the incident, three prosecutors initiated investigations, and Turkey’s Justice Minister, Yılmaz Tunç, disclosed that five individuals have been ordered to be detained for further inquiry.