Around 29 people on Tuesday died as the major fire erupted in a nightclub in Turkey, according to officials.

The nightclub, located in the basement of a high-rise building in Istanbul, was closed for renovations during the day.

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Istanbul governor Davut Gül stated to the media that the cause of the fire was yet to be determined.

Mr. Gül mentioned that the victims were employees, but it remained unclear whether they were contractors or nightclub staff. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu extended condolences via social media, expressing sympathy for the deceased and wishing a swift recovery for the injured.

Several arrests have been made in connection with the fire as investigations proceed, including the nightclub manager and the renovation manager.

The incident took place in a nightclub located beneath a 16-story residential building in Istanbul’s Gayrettepe district. The number of casualties has steadily risen throughout the day, prompting updates from the governor’s office.

Istanbul’s Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, stated that the club did not have the appropriate construction permit for renovations.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been informed of the situation following a conversation with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.