Turkish authorities have detained nine individuals in connection with a fire at a ski resort in the Bolu mountains that claimed 76 lives and injured dozens, officials announced.
Funerals were held on Wednesday for victims, including numerous children, who perished in the blaze that erupted early Tuesday, forcing hotel guests to jump from windows to escape. President Tayyip Erdogan attended a funeral in Bolu for eight victims, expressing grief and offering prayers for the affected families and the nation.
Authorities reported that 45 bodies have been handed over to families, while forensic DNA testing is being conducted to identify the remaining victims. The fire broke out at the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort, which had 238 registered guests. The blaze began on the restaurant floor around 3:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) and quickly engulfed the building.
Criticism is mounting over the hotel’s safety protocols, with survivors reporting the absence of fire alarms and having to navigate dark, smoke-filled corridors in chaos. The hotel expressed sorrow over the tragedy and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
Among the victims were a family of five—a doctor, a teacher, and their three children—who had traveled to the resort during a mid-year school break. Local reports indicate at least 20 children were among those killed.
President Erdogan declared Wednesday a day of national mourning in honor of the victims of the fire, which struck during the peak of the winter tourism season as many families from Istanbul and Ankara visited the popular ski destination.
