Daytime fire kills 29 people at Istanbul nightclub

At least 29 people were killed when a fire engulfed the Masquerade nightclub in central Istanbul during daytime renovation work, Turkish authorities said on Tuesday.

Firefighters doused the charred and smoking entrance to the club as paramedics rushed victims into ambulances. The club, closed for a month-long renovation, occupies two basement floors beneath a 16-storey residential building.

The city governor's office said six people were detained over the blaze as part of an ongoing investigation.

Six people detained over fire

Footage showed white and black smoke billowing from the basement floors and flames rising to the third floor of the building. Corridors leading to the club's entrance were completely charred.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, re-elected in Sunday elections, told reporters outside the building that there was no application to renovate or do construction at the site, adding that any work would not have been visible from street level.

The Masquerade website said it would be closed from March 10 to April 10 "due to our new design renovation." It says it can host up to 4,000 people with DJ performances and stage shows several times a week.

A club representative could not immediately be reached.

Authorities cut power, water, and gas to the area, and building residents were evacuated as a precaution.