UPDATE - 29 killed in fire at Istanbul nightclub undergoing renovations

CHANGES HEADLINE, SPOT, DEATH TOLL

By Gokce Karakose and Fatih Ulas

ISTANBUL (AA) - The death toll has risen to 29 at a nightclub in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul after a fire broke out during renovation work in the venue, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Casualties occurred among construction workers at the nightclub where the blaze broke out on the minus-first and -second floors of a 16-story building in the Besiktas district of the city, the Istanbul Governorship announced in an official statement.

The specific cause of the fire remains unknown, but the statement said it originated from the renovation work.

Upon receiving the alert, firefighters, medical teams, and police swiftly arrived at the scene, with law enforcement securing the area.

Firefighters, with 31 vehicles and 86 personnel, quickly extinguished the flames and brought the situation under control.

"Efforts by rescue teams are ongoing at the site of the incident," the statement added.