ANKARA, April 2. /TASS/. A fire in a 16-story building in Istanbul’s Gayrettepe neighborhood has killed 29 people.

According to the Istanbul governor’s office, one person is hospitalized in serious condition.

Some eyewitnesses say that they heard explosions before the fire broke out but the authorities have not yet confirmed these reports. The majority of victims are builders who were working in the building’s basement, which houses a nightclub where the blaze started.

Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said that an investigation had been launched into the fire. Five people who may be involved in the accident have been detained.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu did not rule out that renovation works had not been agreed with the municipal authorities and safety requirements had been violated.