A devastating fire at a hotel in Turkey’s Kartalkaya Ski Resort has claimed the lives of at least 76 people, with another 51 injured. The fire broke out at around 3:27 a.m. local time and quickly spread through the 12-story hotel.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya described the situation as “deep pain,” saying that most victims, including children, died from suffocation. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with nine people already detained.
The fire department had not reported any issues with the hotel’s safety until Tuesday, and an administrative and criminal investigation has been launched by President Recep Tayip Erdoğan. A day of national mourning will be observed on Wednesday.
At least 45 of the victims have been identified, while efforts are still underway to identify the remaining 31 people. The hotel had registered 238 guests at the time of the fire, which is believed to have started after 3 a.m.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/66-dead-turkish-ski-resort-hotel-fire/story?id=117932829