The death toll from a fire that engulfed a hotel at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Turkey’s Bolu province has risen to 76, and nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the tragedy, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, he confirmed that search and rescue operations have now concluded.
“Regrettably, the number of lives lost has reached 76. Our teams have completed their search efforts, and investigations are currently underway,” he stated.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday and quickly spread throughout the 12-story wooden hotel. Preliminary inquiries indicate that the blaze originated in the restaurant area on the fourth floor before extending to the upper levels.
In response to the incident, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a national day of mourning on Wednesday.
At the time of the fire, the hotel was hosting 238 guests during the peak holiday season. Kartalkaya is a popular ski resort located in the Koroglu Mountains, approximately 300 km east of Istanbul.
