Fire tears through Istanbul apartment block, killing 29

A fire that raged from the basement of a 16-storey building in central Istanbul killed at least 29 people, with flames and thick smoke billowing for hours despite a massive emergency response.

According to the city governor's office, rescue efforts have now ended and eight people have been arrested over the blaze that began in a basement where builders had been renovating a nightclub.

"I have been living in this neighborhood for 25 years.

I have not seen many fire incidents like that before," a resident of Gayreteppe tells AFP.