Turkey arrests nine people after fire at ski resort hotel kills 76, Reuters reports

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey has arrested nine people, including the hotel owner, after a fire at a western Turkish ski resort left 76 people dead and dozens injured, Interior Minister Ali Yirlikaya said early on Wednesday.

Yirlikaya reported that the bodies of 45 victims have been handed over to their families, and DNA tests are being conducted to identify the remaining bodies at the forensic institute.

The fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Resort in the Bolu Mountains.

In a statement on Wednesday, the hotel where the fire broke out expressed its deep sorrow and offered full cooperation to the investigation.

“We are working with the authorities to clarify all aspects of this incident,” the statement said. “We are deeply saddened by your loss and want you to know that we share this pain from the bottom of our hearts.”

The 12-story hotel, which holds 238 guests, was engulfed in flames after the fire broke out on the restaurant floor at around 3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT). Survivors described scenes of terror as they fled through smoke-filled corridors and jumped out of windows to escape.

Criticism of the hotel’s security measures is mounting, as survivors say no fire alarm was raised when the disaster occurred. Guests said they had to navigate smoke-filled corridors in pitch darkness.

President Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday a day of national mourning as several families skied from Istanbul and Ankara to the Bolu Mountains following the disaster during the winter tourism season.