Nine individuals, including the owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel, have been detained in connection with a devastating fire that killed 76 people and injured dozens at a ski resort in western Türkiye, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed early today.
The fire broke out at the 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort, located in the Bolu mountains. The blaze began on the restaurant floor around 3:30 am (0030 GMT) and quickly engulfed the building, which housed 238 registered guests. Survivors described scenes of panic as they fled through smoke-filled corridors, with some jumping from windows to escape.
Minister Yerlikaya stated that the remains of 45 victims had been handed over to their families, while DNA testing continues to identify the remaining bodies at the forensic institute.
The hotel issued a statement expressing its sorrow over the tragedy and pledged full cooperation with the investigation: “We are deeply saddened by the losses and share this pain with all our hearts. We are committed to assisting the authorities in uncovering all aspects of this incident.”
Authorities have come under increasing scrutiny for the hotel’s apparent lack of safety measures. Survivors reported that no fire alarms were activated during the incident, forcing them to navigate corridors in complete darkness.
In response to the tragedy, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a day of national mourning today. The fire occurred during the peak of Türkiye’s winter tourism season, amplifying concerns over safety regulations in the country’s hospitality sector.
