Nine individuals have been detained in Turkey, including the hotel’s owner, in relation to a tragic fire that resulted in the deaths of 76 people and left many others injured at a ski resort in western Turkey, as reported by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
Mr. Yerlikaya further stated that the remains of 45 victims have been returned to their families, while DNA tests are being carried out to identify the other bodies at the forensic institute.
The devastating fire took place at the Grand Kartal Hotel situated in the Kartalkaya ski resort within the Bolu mountains.
The hotel, where the blaze ignited, expressed profound sorrow in an official statement and committed to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
A view of the damage from the fire at the ski resort in Bolu
The 12-storey hotel, which hosted 238 registered guests, was engulfed by flames after the fire started on the restaurant level around 3:30 am (12:30 Irish time). Survivors recounted chaotic scenes as they escaped through smoke-filled hallways and leapt from windows to save themselves.
Authorities are facing increasing scrutiny regarding the hotel’s safety protocols, with survivors indicating that no fire alarms activated during the emergency. Guests reported having to navigate through dark, smoke-filled corridors.
In response to the tragedy, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a national day of mourning, coinciding with the peak winter tourism season as many families from Istanbul and Ankara had traveled to the Bolu mountains for skiing.
