At least 29 people lost their lives in a fire that broke out at a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, while daytime repair work was being carried out, according to state media reports on Tuesday.
The Istanbul governor's office also mentioned that eight individuals were injured in the incident, with seven of them being in serious condition.
The fire broke out in the Besiktas district in central Istanbul on the European side of the city, according to the governor’s office. All of the individuals affected by the fire were construction workers.
Anadolu, the Turkish news state agency, reported that the fire initiated during renovations at an underground location in the area.
Arrest warrants have been issued for five individuals, which include three nightclub managers and one person in charge of the renovation, as stated by Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.
He mentioned that investigations are still ongoing at the site, with a team of 3 experts focusing on occupational safety and fire conducting their work to determine the cause of the fire.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Editor's P/S:
The Istanbul nightclub fire is a tragic reminder of the importance of fire safety regulations and the need for thorough investigations into such incidents. The loss of life in this preventable disaster is heartbreaking, and the injuries sustained by eight others are a testament to the severity of the blaze. The arrest warrants issued for five individuals, including nightclub managers and renovation supervisors, indicate that negligence or criminal intent may have played a role in the fire.
Thorough investigations are crucial to determine the exact cause of the fire and to hold those responsible accountable. The team of experts focusing on occupational safety and fire should carefully examine the scene, review construction plans, and interview witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy. The findings of their investigation will help prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure that construction and renovation projects are carried out with the highest safety standards. The victims and their families deserve justice, and the public needs reassurance that such a horrific event will not be repeated.