ANKARA, January 22 The death toll from the devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey’s Kartalkaya ski resort in the mountainous Bolu Province has risen to 76, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
"Based on the most recent information, 76 people have lost their lives, with 52 of the victims identified. As of now, 45 bodies have been handed over to their families. Nine individuals have been taken into custody as part of the investigation," Yerlikaya said.
The fire, which started early on Tuesday, has been extinguished.
"The search efforts and inspection of the affected area have been completed. Some of the victims have yet to be identified, and DNA testing will continue in forensic facilities. The bodies will be returned to their families once the identification process is finished," the minister explained.
Yerlikaya stated that the fire broke out at 3:27 a.m. local time (0:27 a.m. GMT) on Tuesday, but the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
"Nine people have been detained in connection with the incident. All aspects of this tragedy, including the hotel’s operations, will undergo a thorough investigation," Yerlikaya added.