According to authorities, nine persons have been detained in Turkey as part of the investigation into a fire at a ski resort in the Bolu mountains that claimed 76 lives and injured numerous more.
Families of several of the children who perished in the fire on Tuesday, which prompted terrified hotel visitors to jump from windows in the middle of the night, had a number of burials on Wednesday.
At a funeral for eight victims in Bolu, western Turkey, President Tayyip Erdogan stated, “Our hearts and souls are hurting, and we are currently trying to fulfill this duty.”
I offer up prayers for patience for our country and the entire family. According to the administration, forensic DNA testing was being done to identify the other victims while the bodies of 45 victims were turned over to their families.
There were 238 registered guests at the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort when the fire broke out. Around 3:30 a.m. local time (7:30 p.m. ET Monday), the fire broke out on the restaurant floor, and it was engulfed by flames.
Since witnesses claimed they did not hear any fire alarms during the tragedy, authorities are coming under increasing heat for the hotel’s safety protocols.
Other survivors recounted scenes of terror as they ran through smoke-filled hallways, while guests claimed they had to traverse the passageways in total darkness.
The hotel expressed its profound sadness at the losses and promised to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The coffins of a family of five were arranged in a line at the Ahmet Hamdi Akseki mosque in the heart of Ankara during one funeral.
According to a Reuters witness at the funeral, the parents, a teacher and a doctor, had taken their three kids skiing in Kartalkaya during a mid-year school holiday.
Local media said that children made up at least 20 of the fire victims.
Following the tragedy, which happened during the busiest time of year for winter tourism, when many families from Istanbul and Ankara traveled to the Bolu mountains to ski, President Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday would be a day of national sorrow.