Death toll in Turkish resort fire rises to 76, 9 detained
Last Updated on January 23, 2025 6:57 am
The death toll from a devastating fire at a ski resort in western Turkey has risen to 76, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said early Wednesday (January 22). Meanwhile, nine people, including the resort owner, have been detained in the incident. Reuters reports.
Yerlikaya also said that the bodies of 45 of the deceased have been handed over to their families. DNA tests are being conducted at the Forensic Institute to identify the rest.
Earlier on Tuesday, a massive fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu Mountains.
In a statement on Wednesday, the hotel authorities expressed deep sorrow over the incident and promised full cooperation in the investigation.
Authorities said that there were 238 registered guests at the 12-story resort when the fire broke out. The fire broke out on the restaurant floor at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Survivors said that some fled through corridors in panic amid the smoke. Others jumped out of windows.
Meanwhile, the authorities are being harshly criticized for the hotel’s security measures. Survivors said that no fire alarm went off at the time of the incident.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a national day of mourning on Wednesday after the accident.
As it was the winter tourism season, many families from Istanbul and Ankara came to travel to Bolu Mountains for skiing.