A fire killed at least 29 people in a 16-storey block of flats in Istanbul on Tuesday, the governor of Turkey’s largest city said, updating an earlier toll of 15 dead and eight hurt.

“The number of people who lost their lives in the fire in Gayrettepe of Besiktas district has increased to 29,” governor Davut Gul’s office said, referring to the Istanbul neighbourhood.

“One person hurt in the fire was still being treated in hospital,” it added.

The fire began at 12.47pm local time, the office said, and was only brought under control by firefighters hours later.

Television images showed flames and thick smoke rushing from upper-storey windows.

Five people have been arrested at the scene in connection with the blaze, news channel NTV reported.

The number of people reported killed and hurt rose throughout the afternoon, the governor’s office said, as more victims succumbed to their injuries.

The blaze had broken out during building work in the first and second floors below ground, which houses a nightclub, Mr Gul said.

“An investigation has been opened into the fire in Gayrettepe,” Ali Yerlikaya, the interior minister, posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s newly re-elected mayor, who visited the scene, said “the fire is under control. Let’s hope there are no further victims”, offering his “condolences” to the relatives of the dead and injured.