Questions are being raised about security measures at the Grand Kartal Hotel at the ski resort in the Bolu mountains.
Turkey has arrested nine people in connection with Tuesday’s attack fire in the hotel on the ski resort which killed 76 people.
The arrests, which were announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Wednesday, included the hotel’s owner, and questions have been raised about the security measures in place.
The government appointed six prosecutors to lead an investigation into the fire, which is believed to have started in the restaurant section of the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel, located in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu mountains.
The authorities are facing increasing criticism. Witnesses and reports suggest the hotel’s fire detection system was not working.
Survivors among the 238 registered guests reported that no fire alarms went off during the incident and that they had to navigate smoke-filled hallways in complete darkness.
Hotel guests described scenes of panic as they ran and jumped from windows to escape.
Yerlikaya reported 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 in front of the hotel. “But you should know that whoever is responsible for causing this pain will not escape justice.”
The hotel expressed deep sorrow and promised full cooperation with the investigation.
“We are working with the authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident,” the statement said. “We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts.”
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a day of national mourning on Wednesday. The incident happened at the height of the winter tourist season.
Kartalkaya, about 295 km (183 miles) east of Istanbul, is one of Turkey’s most popular destinations, attracting thousands of visitors during the ski season.
