Date | 2 April 2024 |
---|---|
Location | Masquerade Club, Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey |
Coordinates | 41°3′56″N 29°0′30″E / 41.06556°N 29.00833°E |
Type | Fire |
Deaths | 29 |
Non-fatal injuries | 8 |
On 2 April 2024, a fire broke out at the Masquerade Club, in the Gayrettepe neighborhood of Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey, killing at least 29 people. [1] [2]
The club, which was located on Gonenoglu Street, a busy area of the Gayrettepe neighbourhood, [3] first received its operating license in 1987 and was last renewed in 2018. [4] At the time of the fire, the club was closed for a month long renovation coinciding with Ramadan, [5] and was scheduled to reopen on 10 April. [6] It was located in the basement and ground level below a 16-story residential building. [7] The building's manager said that the venue of the club was originally designed as a cinema. [8] The club, which had a capacity of 4,000, [5] ran a mixture of deep house and hip hop nights with live music and multiple stages. [9] [4]
According to the city governor's office, the fire began at 12:47 (09:47 GMT) with the blaze extinguished in the late afternoon [4] after it had reached the building's third floor. [5] At least 29 people died in the fire, while at least eight people were injured, seven seriously. Most of the victims were construction workers doing the renovations, as well as a club DJ and a cook. [8] [3] Turkish media said that the lay-out of the renovated area was similar to a "labyrinth", which hampered escape efforts. [8]
Authorities sealed off the vicinity of the building, while around 20 fire trucks and ambulances were dispatched to the area. [4] Electricity and gas supplies to the neighborhood were also shut off as a precaution. [5]
Five people were detained after the fire, including managers of the club and one of the individuals in charge of the renovations. [7] The Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that an investigation had been opened into the fire shortly after it was extinguished. [4] The Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, said that the club had not applied for the proper construction permit. [10] On 3 April, Yeni Şafak, citing fire department officials, reported that the fire was believed to have been caused by sparks from a welding machine used to install sound insulation and decoration material, which then caused an explosion that set other construction materials ablaze. [8]
İmamoğlu expressed condolences to the victims of the fire. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was also briefed on the incident over a phone call by Ali Yerlikaya. [1]