Tragic blaze in Istanbul nightclub claims 29 lives amid renovations

In Istanbul, Turkey, the interior of a nightclub caught fire on Tuesday. The establishment was undergoing renovations at the time. As a result of the fire, 29 people died. The condition of 7 individuals is described as serious by doctors. An earlier explosion reportedly started the fire.

The mayor of Istanbul shared information about the fire's consequences in the afternoon. Ekrem Imamoglu reported that eight people were affected by the fire. Meanwhile, according to the Daily Sabah website, 15 people were injured, and the death toll is at least 29.

The media reported that the fire broke out during renovations in a nightclub located in the basement of a 16-story building.

The fire started at about 11:00 AM GMT (1:00 PM local time) and occurred in the Besiktas district, which is in the European part of the city.

The Hurriet Daily News website wrote that an explosion caused the fire. The fire quickly engulfed the premises, filling the entire building with smoke, and people were trapped inside.

For now, it is unknown what caused the establishment's explosion. The head of the Turkish Ministry of the Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, announced that an investigation had been initiated in connection with the fire. There are no reports that the tragedy was the result of deliberate actions.

The club was closed to visitors not only because of the renovation but also due to the ongoing Ramadan until April 9 - an important holiday in the Muslim world.