Late at night and into the morning this past weekend, hundreds of club-goers in Istanbul were faced with a catastrophe, a fire that has resulted in 29 people killed and numerous injured. The fire started on Tuesday evening at a club that was under renovation in the basement of a residential structure in the Wohl Besiktas Akitors.

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Scotland Yard stated that the first callers said that there was black smoke coming from the entrance of the club and many patrons run out. The fire promptly received assistance from emergency services, however, the small stairs that led down to the basement venue made the rescue near to impossible. On Saturday night, the fire raged for several hours before the firefighters managed to contain it.

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a press briefing that at least twelve people had died in the fire and an investigation into the circumstances of the fire had begun. Early reports of the renovation work carried out at the building have also emerged as a possible cause of the fire, while authorities are not ruling out anything.

The victims were young adults who were locked inside the crammed hall as the fire progressed through the night. They died of suffocation, many before they could escape the fire inferno. Dozens of injured people were taken to hospitals all over the city, and some of them remain in critical condition with severe burns and breathing difficulties.

The event has raised concern over security measures in entertainment areas within Istanbul, especially basements. Leadership in the city has been accused of negligence of duty and allowing building contractors to undertake their projects without adhering to set construction standards and safety requirements.

Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu condoled to the families of the victims and promised to consider all clubs in Istanbul. “We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from happening again,” he stated in a press conference.

Established over 10 years ago as a hangout for young people of Istanbul, the nightclub was said to have recently received several face lifts aimed at increasing its seating capacity. People are starting to wonder if those changes negated the safety measures of this venue.

People of the area have come out on the site of a fire with flowers and candles to honor the victims of the tragedy. Most people were horrified and could not believe the catastrophe that claimed the lives of more than one hundred people in the Turkish nightclub.

The news can be compared with other nightclub fires all over the globe; this year, a fire at a musical club in Bucharest, Romania, resulted in 64 deaths. Fire safety advocates are urging authorities to review and enhance laws pertaining to the entertainment business, demanding strict cheques on buildings that host entertainment activities, especially those located and functioning in enclosed areas.

In the course of the investigation, some people associated with the management of the nightclub and the ongoing reconstruction were arrested. The public prosecutor has said that it will press charges of negligence leading to death and bodily harm.

The Turkish government has ordered a one-day national mourning as flags are flown at half-mast across the country. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was shocked at the incident and offered condolences to the bereaved families. “Our nation stands united in grief,” he said in a televised address. “We will do everything in our power to support those who have lost loved ones and to ensure that justice is served.”

Murder, they say, has beamed a gloomy spirit over Istanbul, a city that is famous for its parties and entertainment activities. Most clubs and bars in the area have since shut down their businesses in respect of the situation and to allow for security cheques.

There is still confusion about safety and stability of buildings; adequate preparedness of these structures for disasters; and whether they were constructed with proper government supervision. The fire that occurred at the popular Istanbul club points to likely dramatic changes that Turkey’s entertainment industry and the license terms of popular clubs may soon face.

The next few days will demarcate the ability and identify the sequences of events that led to the fire and whether it could have been avoided in the first instance. For now, Istanbul sleeps; whoever said that first kisses should be met with bullets and blood is a terrorist.