Istanbul, At least 29 people were killed on Tuesday when a fire engulfed Istanbul’s underground Masquerade nightclub during daytime renovation work, Turkish local authorities said, prompting the evacuation of dozens of residents living above it.

According to Reutters, firefighters doused the charred and smoking entrance to the club, which occupies two basement floors, as paramedics rushed victims into ambulances. Earlier footage showed flames reaching the third of the residential building’s 16 storeys.

The blaze broke out at 12:47 p.m. (0947 GMT) in the city’s Gayrettepe district, and six people were detained as part of an investigation, the city governor’s office said.

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

Source: Bahrain News Agency