Nine persons are in the net after the devastating fire that resulted in 76 fatalities and left dozens injured at a ski resort located in western Turkey.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who announced this on Wednesday morning, revealed that the hotel owner is among those detained.
Yerlikaya also shared that the remains of 45 victims have been handed over to their families, while DNA testing is ongoing to identify the rest at the forensic institute.
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The fire broke out at the the Grand Kartal Hotel, situated in the Kartalkaya ski resort within the Bolu mountains.
On Wednesday, the hotel released a statement expressing profound regret and promising full support for the investigation.
“We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident,” the statement read.
“We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts,” it added.
The 12-storey hotel, which had 238 registered guests, was engulfed in flames after the fire began on the restaurant floor around 3:30 a.m. 0030 GMT.
Survivors recounted chaotic scenes as they escaped through smoke-filled hallways and leaped from windows to survive.
Authorities are facing mounting criticism over the hotel’s safety standards, as survivors reported that no fire alarms activated during the disaster.
Guests described navigating dark, smoke-filled corridors as they tried to find their way out.
President Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday a national day of mourning in response to the tragedy, which took place during the peak of the winter tourism season.
The Bolu mountains attract many families from Istanbul and Ankara for skiing during this time.
Crediblenewsng.com
