Deadly nightclub fire in Istanbul probably started by sparks from welding – Report

A fire broke out in a nightclub in Istanbul while it was being renovated. The fire killed 29 people. It was probably started by sparks from welding equipment setting fire to flammable materials, according to the fire department.

The Masquerade nightclub caught on fire on Tuesday, and people couldn’t get out. 29 people died and another person was seriously injured.

Authorities have arrested nine people to ask them questions. This includes the people who manage the club and those who were in charge of fixing it up.

The club was closed for repairs during Ramadan. It was in a building in Besiktas, on the ground and basement floors. The building is 16 stories tall and is in the European part of the city, with the Bosphorus Strait running through it. It was going to open again on April 10th.

The governorDavut Gul said they are looking into what caused the fire. The government chose people to investigate the incident and bring charges if necessary.

The newspaper Yeni Safak, which supports President Erdogan, said the fire was caused by sparks from a welding machine used to install sound insulation and decoration material. It caused an explosion that made other building materials catch on fire.

The newspaper mentioned that it got the information from firefighters who did not want to be named. The Sabah newspaper printed a report that was the same. Public officials have not said anything about what caused the fire.

HaberTurk TV said that the place where the renovation was happening was like a maze, making it hard for the people to escape.

According to news in Turkey, Gokhan Tevlek, a DJ, Atanur Aladag, a cook, and Akin and Yilmaz Kihri, a father and son who worked as welders, were among the victims.

Firefighters are helping after a fire started at a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. IHA via AP is giving this information.

A video showed a fire coming out of the building and firefighters spraying water on the club entrance. People were carrying a hurt person on a stretcher towards an ambulance.

“The fire brigade came and then people started coming out of the nightclub,” said witness Sema Soganci according to state-run Anadolu. “Everyone was yelling and everything happened really fast. ” The fire was out of control.

“I started to cry because I was feeling nervous,” she said.

Another person, Mehmet Cengiz, told Anadolu, “We saw firefighters going in and out all covered in black. ”

The club could hold up to 4,000 people, as stated on its website. The building manager said on Wednesday that the place was first planned to be a movie theater.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said the club didn’t get permission to do renovations.