ISTANBUL: Illegal welding work at an Istanbul nightclub started a fire that killed at least 29 people in a residential block, according to a video published by the Turkish Interior Minister on Wednesday.
Released CCTV footage shows a worker welding a metal object with a blowtorch in the building when flames suddenly erupt and thick smoke billows out into Turkey's economic capital.
The fire broke out at midday on Tuesday at the Masquerade Club, a large nightclub housed in the basement of the 16-storey apartment block in the Gayrettepe neighbourhood of Besiktas district.
"The investigation... into the incident is continuing," said Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in a message published with the video on X, formerly Twitter.
The Besiktas town hall on Tuesday said that it had not received "any request for authorisation" from the owners of the nightclub or from the contractor "concerning a possible renovation of the premises".
Nine people were arrested following the fire, including the owner and manager of the nightclub and the owner of the metalworking company responsible for the work, the Istanbul governorate said.
According to Yerlikaya, the 29 people killed were workers and none of the residents present when the fire broke out died. The club had been closed for works.
Turkish govt says illegal welding started deadly Istanbul fire
https://arab.news/8x5tt
Turkish govt says illegal welding started deadly Istanbul fire
- Released CCTV footage shows a worker welding a metal object with a blowtorch in the building when flames suddenly erupt
- "The investigation... into the incident is continuing," said Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya
Morocco’s energy ministry puts gas pipeline project on hold
- The country’s natural gas demand is expected to rise to 8 billion cubic meters in 2027 from around 1 bcm currently, according to ministry estimates
RABAT: Morocco’s energy ministry said on Monday it has paused a tender launched last month for a gas pipeline project, without giving details on the reasons for the suspension.
The tender sought bids to build a pipeline linking a future gas terminal at the Nador West Med port on the Mediterranean to an existing pipeline that allows Morocco to import LNG through Spanish terminals and supply two power plants.
It also covered a section that would connect the existing pipeline to industrial zones on the Atlantic in Mohammedia and Kenitra.
“Due to new parameters and assumptions related to this project... the ministry of energy transition and sustainable development is postponing the receipt of applications and the opening of bids received as of today,” the ministry said in a statement.
Morocco is looking to expand its use of natural gas to diversify away from coal as it also accelerates its renewable energy plan, which aims for renewables to account for 52 percent of installed capacity by 2030, up from 45 percent now.
The country’s natural gas demand is expected to rise to 8 billion cubic meters in 2027 from around 1 bcm currently, according to ministry estimates.
