Death toll hits 79 after Turkish ski hotel fire amid probe, anger

Istanbul, Jan 23, (dpa/GNA) – The death toll in the devastating fire, at a ski hotel in Turkey’s north-western Bolu province rose to 79, state news agency Anadolu reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, two more people, including Bolu deputy mayor and fire brigade chief, were detained as part of an investigation on Wednesday, bringing total number of detainees to 11, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunç wrote on social media platform X.

Turkish authorities were facing growing criticism over a lack of safety measures at the hotel, where the fire killed at least 79 people and wounded over 50 the previous day.

Witnesses, hotel workers and opposition parties have suggested that the fire detection system, failed in the hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort.

Survivors reported there were no fire extinguishers, and the fire brigade took too long to arrive, travelling from the city of Bolu about 40 kilometres away to reach the hotel in the mountains.

Survivors described scenes of panic, with many racing through smoke-filled corridors to reach the exit, while others had to jump from windows to escape.

State broadcaster TRT showed images of family members hugging and crying as they waited to receive bodies of relatives brought to the capital Ankara.

The authorities were accused of ignoring construction safety requirements, following a devastating earthquake in the country`s east in 2023, which killed over 50,000 people.

The largest opposition party, the CHP, accused the government of relaxing fire safety regulations over a decade ago, in 2012.

In a parliamentary question to the Tourism Ministry, seen by dpa, CHP also criticized the fact that there had not been a sprinkler system installed in the hotel, although this was mandatory.

The Tourism Ministry was not available to respond to dpa’s questions.

Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on Tuesday held the local fire brigade responsible, and rejected allegations that there were no fire escapes.

“The tourism minister’s statements are unacceptable,” CHP’s Gülsah Deniz Atalar said in a video posted on X.

Nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the fire, including the hotel owner.

Meanwhile, work at the site of the accident continued. Local disaster authority AFAD and the fire brigade were still combing through the hotel on Wednesday, state news agency Anadolu reported, despite a potential risk of collapse.

It is currently a school holiday period in Turkey, and several children are reported to be among the dead.

Erdogan declared Wednesday a day of national mourning due to the catastrophe.

GNA