A tragic fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkiye's Kartalkaya ski resort resulted in the loss of 76 lives. The fire, which began in the restaurant area of the 12-story hotel, has led to the detention of nine individuals, including the hotel's owner, as confirmed by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
Concerns have been raised about the hotel's safety measures, as the fire detection system reportedly failed to activate. Survivors among the 238 registered guests described navigating smoke-filled corridors in darkness, with some resorting to jumping from windows to escape.
Minister Yerlikaya stated that 45 victims' bodies have been returned to their families, with DNA testing underway for the others. "Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning," he said, emphasizing that those responsible will face justice.
The hotel expressed condolences and pledged full cooperation with authorities. Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a national day of mourning following the incident, which occurred during the peak winter tourism season at the popular ski destination, located about 295 km east of Istanbul.
Turkiye is the name of the country that is also known as Turkey. It is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
The Grand Kartal Hotel is a place where people can stay, like a big house for guests, located in a ski resort area in Turkiye.
Kartalkaya ski resort is a place in Turkiye where people go to enjoy skiing, which is a sport done on snow.
A fire detection system is a special setup in buildings that helps to find fires early by sensing smoke or heat, so people can be warned and stay safe.
A national day of mourning is a day when a country remembers and honors people who have died in a tragic event, and people might show respect by being quiet or not doing fun activities.
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