Interior Minister Yerlikaya announces: Death toll in fire rises to 76

Minister Yerlikaya also announced that 9 people have been detained in connection with the fire at the hotel in Kartalkaya Ski Center.

Yerlikaya stated the following:

"As we stated in our first press release regarding the fire that broke out at this hotel at 03:27 this morning for a reason yet to be determined by the authorities, the fire was extinguished with the help of public institutions, the fire department, municipalities, water tankers, and all kinds of equipment and human resources. The search and scanning operations have also just been concluded. In our previous press release, we unfortunately stated that 66 of our loved ones had passed away. Dear friends, our hearts are burning, it is impossible to describe our pain; unfortunately, the number of our loved ones who passed away is 76. May they rest in peace.

"52 BODIES IDENTIFIED"

I offer my condolences to their families and to our dear nation. I pray that God protects our dear nation from such events again. Here, under the coordination of the Provincial Health Directorate, 52 bodies have been identified. The bodies of 45 of our deceased citizens have been handed over to their families. We have not yet been able to complete the identification process for the others.

9 PEOPLE DETAINED

Identification and DNA testing are being carried out at the Council of Forensic Medicine regarding this. Once these are completed as quickly as possible, they will be handed over to their families. Our Ministry of Justice has made a statement. Our Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor, 5 public prosecutors, and experts are conducting investigations regarding the cause of the fire, negligence, and faults. 9 individuals have been detained due to the incident.

Our chief inspectors have arrived. The entire process of this hotel from its first day to today is being examined in great detail. Know that whatever faults or negligence exist regarding the necessary legal procedures will be revealed at the end of the administrative investigation, and we will share them with our dear nation. Our President has expressed this. A 1-day national mourning period has been declared following the Cabinet meeting. All 85 million of us are heartbroken. We are in mourning, but know that whoever or whoever caused us this pain, whoever is responsible, will in no way be able to escape the justice that decides on behalf of the Turkish nation."

News Source: AA