Many died in a fire at a nightclub in Istanbul – NRK Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

The nightclub is currently closed due to Ramadan, and was undergoing renovations when it caught fire, writes news agency AFP.

The club is located in the basement of a 16-storey block of flats.

In addition to the almost 30 dead, one person has also been sent to hospital with serious injuries, says Governor Davut Gül, according to the BBC.

The governor says all the victims are workers.

The death toll has risen throughout the day as more people died from the injuries they received in connection with the fire.

Will investigate

Pictures show that the fire has caused extensive damage to the building. According to the governor’s office, the fire started in connection with the renovation work.

It is not clear what caused it to start burning, but Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on social media that the fire is being investigated.

The BBC also writes that Yerlikaya has informed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the incident.

Five people are to be wanted after the incident, including the owner of the nightclub. Two of these have been arrested, while the last three are still at large, the governor’s office says in a statement, according to AFP.

Istanbul’s elected mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was present at the scene on Tuesday afternoon to look at the damage and send condolences to the bereaved. After the visit, he said that the fire was under control, and that he hoped there would be no more victims.