Turkey: 25 killed, 8 injured after fire breaks out at Istanbul nightclub during renovations

Istanbul: At least 25 people died and several others were injured after a fire broke out at an Istanbul nightclub during renovations, according to officials and media reports. At least eight people were injured, seven of them hospitalised in serious condition, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The nightclub, which was closed for renovations, was on the ground floor of a 16-storey residential building in the Besiktas district on the European side of the city. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said the fire was extinguished and the injured were being treated in nearby hospitals. An investigation into the incident was launched, the city’s governor’s office said in a statement.

Authorities detained five people for questioning, including managers of the club and one person in charge of the renovations, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.

More to follow…