ISTANBUL, TURKEY – A devastating fire erupted in Istanbul’s Masquerade nightclub during a renovation process, claiming at least 27 lives on Tuesday. The Istanbul governor’s office confirmed that one individual was admitted to the hospital following the incident.
Situated in the Besiktas district on the European side of Istanbul, the nightclub is part of a 16-story residential building. The fire, which claimed numerous lives, was successfully extinguished, and several individuals, including nightclub managers, were taken into custody for further questioning.
The Istanbul governor’s office announced that one person is currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital. The Masquerade nightclub, which was temporarily closed for renovations, occupies the ground and basement levels of the residential building in the Besiktas district.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, according to Governor Davut Gul. He suggested that the victims were likely part of the renovation crew working on the nightclub at the time of the incident.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that five individuals, including the club’s managers and the person overseeing the renovations, were detained for questioning. Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu confirmed that authorities are conducting a thorough inspection of the entire building to assess its safety.