Questions are being raised about security measures at the Grand Cartel Hotel at a ski resort in the Bolo Mountains.
Turkey has arrested nine people in connection with Tuesday’s ski resort hotel fire that killed 76 people.
The arrests, announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Wednesday, also include the owner of the hotel, raising questions about security measures.
The government has appointed six prosecutors to lead the investigation into the fire, which is believed to have started in the restaurant section of the 12-story Grand Kartel Hotel, located in the Kartalkia ski resort in the Bolo mountains. is
Authorities are facing growing criticism. Eyewitnesses and reports have suggested that the hotel’s fire detection system failed to function.
Survivors of the 238 registered guests said there was no fire alarm during the incident and they had to walk through smoke-filled corridors in complete darkness.
Hotel guests described scenes of panic as they fled and jumped out of windows to escape.
Yerlikaya said that the bodies of 45 victims have been handed over to their families, while DNA tests are being conducted to identify the remaining bodies.
“Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning,” the minister told reporters outside the hotel. “But you should know that whoever is responsible for this suffering will not escape justice.”
The hotel expressed deep sorrow and promised full cooperation in the investigation.
“We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident,” it said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by the loss and want you to know that we share this pain with all of our hearts.”
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a day of national mourning on Wednesday. The incident occurred during the peak of the winter tourist season.
Kartalkia, about 295 km (183 mi) east of Istanbul, is one of Turkey’s top destinations, attracting thousands of visitors during the ski season.
