By Sama Marwan,
The Turkish Ministry of Justice confirmed that the death toll from the fire that broke out at a hotel in a ski resort in Bolu province, northern Turkey, has risen to 78.
According to France 24, the ministry stated on Thursday that the identification of the victims has been completed.
Derya Basılmaz, head of the Architectural Engineering Chamber in Ankara, who visited the site, confirmed that the building had only one staircase functioning as an emergency exit and that it did not comply with safety standards.
Authorities have arrested 11 individuals, including the deputy mayor of Bolu, the city’s fire chief, the owner of the “Grand Kartal” hotel, its general manager, and the head of electrical systems, as part of an ongoing investigation launched since Tuesday.
A previous report issued Wednesday evening by the Bolu prosecutor’s office stated the death toll had reached 78.
Accusations of negligence have surged since the tragedy. Survivors and experts have pointed out that the fire alarm system in the 12-story hotel was not operational.
Earlier, Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin announced that the fire had started in the hotel’s restaurant area. Firefighters, disaster response units, and medical teams supported by helicopters were dispatched to the scene. Authorities managed to evacuate approximately 230 people from the hotel, and an investigation has been launched to uncover the circumstances and causes of the fire.
