Turkiye Arrests Nine Following Fatal Ski Resort Hotel Fire

Turkish authorities have arrested nine individuals, including the owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel, in connection with a devastating fire that killed 76 people on Tuesday at a ski resort in the Bolu Mountains.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the arrests on Wednesday, revealing that six prosecutors had been appointed to lead an investigation into the tragedy. The blaze reportedly started in the restaurant section of the 12-storey hotel, located in the popular Kartalkaya ski resort, during the peak of the winter tourism season.
Amid mounting criticism, questions have arisen about the safety measures at the hotel. Survivors among the 238 registered guests reported that the fire detection system failed to operate and that no alarms were triggered. Many guests described chaotic scenes as they fled through smoke-filled corridors, some forced to jump from windows to escape.
Authorities confirmed that the bodies of 45 victims had been identified and handed over to their families, while DNA tests were underway to identify the remaining victims.
“Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning,” Minister Yerlikaya said at a press briefing outside the hotel. “But you should know that whoever is responsible for causing this pain will not escape justice.”
The hotel’s management issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy and pledging full cooperation with the investigation. “We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts,” the statement read.
In response to the disaster, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a day of national mourning on Wednesday. The fire has cast a shadow over Kartalkaya, one of Turkiye’s premier ski destinations located 295 kilometers (183 miles) east of Istanbul, which typically attracts thousands of visitors during the season.
As investigations continue, public outrage has grown over the apparent lack of adequate fire safety measures, with survivors and witnesses demanding accountability for the tragedy.