A deadly fire tore through a multi-storey residential building in Ankara’s Çankaya district on Saturday evening, claiming the lives of three people, including a 3.5-month-old baby, and injuring at least 20 others.

The blaze erupted in a densely populated area, trapping residents as flames and thick smoke spread rapidly. Firefighters battled for hours to extinguish the fire and rescue those inside, with emergency teams conducting a desperate search operation.

Among the victims were 3.5-month-old Aras Şahin, Hüsniye Çelik Şahin, and Muharrem Çetinkaya, whose bodies were recovered after the fire was brought under control. Twenty others were treated in hospital for smoke inhalation, though details of their conditions remain unclear.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office leading efforts to determine its origin. Fire crews also carried out ventilation operations to clear the building of hazardous smoke.

Local authorities have offered condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to review fire safety measures in residential buildings. The tragedy has sparked renewed concern over building safety standards in the Turkish capital. (ILKHA)