29 Jan Nine detained following Türkiye hotel resort fire

Nine individuals, including the owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel, have been detained following a fire that killed 76 people and injured many others at a ski resort in western Türkiye, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed.

The fire broke out around 3:30 am in the 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel, which housed 238 guests.

Survivors described panic-filled scenes as they fled through smoke-filled halls, with some jumping from windows.

Minister Yerlikaya reported that 45 victims’ remains have been returned to their families, while DNA testing is ongoing to identify the rest at the forensic institute..

The hotel issued a statement, sharing: “We are deeply saddened by the losses and share this pain with all our hearts. We are committed to assisting the authorities in uncovering all aspects of this incident.”

Authorities are under increasing criticism for the hotel’s lack of safety measures, with survivors noting that no fire alarms were activated, leaving them to navigate in darkness.

In response, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared today a national day of mourning. The fire occurred during Türkiye’s winter tourism peak, raising concerns about safety regulations in the hospitality sector.