Turkey authorities have detained nine people, including the owner of the hotel, in connection with a deadly fire that claimed the lives of 76 people and injured dozens at a ski resort in western Turkey. The fire, which occurred during the school holidays, has prompted an investigation, with prosecutors aiming to shed light on the cause and hold those responsible accountable.
The fact that such a catastrophic event occurred during school holidays when families were supposed to enjoy quality time together makes it all the more heartbreaking. The fire, believed to have started in the hotel’s restaurant section, has raised serious concerns about the hotel’s safety measures and emergency preparedness. It is unacceptable that in this day and age, a hotel can be so poorly equipped to handle a fire, resulting in such a staggering loss of life.
Turkey Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the arrest early on Wednesday and also reported that the bodies of 45 victims had been handed over to their families while DNA tests were being conducted to identify the remaining bodies at the forensic institute. Yerlikaya also added that the government has appointed six prosecutors to lead the investigation.
The fire occurred at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu mountains.
The management of the Grand Kartal Hotel expressed deep sorrow in a statement on Wednesday and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
“We are cooperating with 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.”
The 12-storey hotel, which had 238 registered guests at the time, was consumed by flames after the fire started on the restaurant floor around 3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT). Survivors described scenes of panic as they fled through smoke-filled corridors and jumped from windows to escape.
Authorities are facing growing criticism over the hotel’s safety measures, as survivors reported that no fire alarms went off during the incident. Guests said they had to navigate the smoke-filled corridors in complete darkness.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday a day of national mourning following Tuesday’s tragedy.
The detention of nine individuals, including the hotel’s owner, is a welcome move, but it remains to be seen whether justice will be served. The investigation, led by six prosecutors, must be thorough and transparent, leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of truth.
The Turkish government must ensure that those responsible for this tragedy are held accountable and that measures are put in place to prevent such a disaster from occurring again.
