A tragic fire claimed the lives of 29 individuals at Istanbul’s Masquerade nightclub, as established by Turkish officials on Tuesday. The club was under renovation during the day when the tragedy occurred. The fire brigade arrived at the scene to put out the fire at the entrance, while medical staff rushed the injured to nearby ambulances.
Situated underneath a towering 16-storey residential building, this popular nightspot comprises two basement levels and had been shut for renovations over a month. Following the incident, six individuals were placed under custody linked to the inferno as part of a probe by the local governor’s office.
Images from the site highlighted the devastating impact of the fire, with clouds of black and white smoke covering the basement levels and flame reaching up to the building’s third floor. The pathways leading to the entry area of the nightclub were completely ravaged by the fire.
The renowned Masquerade club, known for DJ performances and frequent live events, boasted of a capacity to accommodate around 4,000 patrons, as the club’s digital platform confirmed.
Further updates will be provided soon.
*Note: Information sourced from Thomson Reuters 2024.