Photo Credit: AFP

In a devastating incident, at least 29 individuals lost their lives as a fire engulfed a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey. According to reports from state media on Tuesday, the blaze erupted during daytime repair operations.

The Istanbul governor’s office confirmed that eight others sustained injuries, with seven of them in critical condition. Tragically, all the victims were identified as construction workers.

Located in the bustling Besiktas district on the European side of the city, the fire broke out around 1 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET) at a 16-story building on Gundogdu Street, within Istanbul’s Gayrettepe neighborhood. The premises were undergoing renovations, situated underground, as reported by Anadolu, the Turkish state news agency.

Authorities have issued arrest warrants for five individuals, including three associated with the management of the nightclub and one linked to the renovation work, stated Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.

“The site inspection and evidence collection efforts are ongoing, and a team of 3 experts specializing in occupational safety and fire is also continuing their work to determine the cause of the fire,” he remarked.