Turkey mourns victims of fatal Bolu hotel fire as efforts to identify them continue

A day of mourning is below approach in Turkey for the 76 victims of a fireplace that engulfed a well-liked ski resort resort within the nation’s north-west.

The fireplace broke out on the wooden-clad 12-storey Grand Kartal Resort in Bolu at 03:27 native time (00:27 GMT) throughout a busy vacation interval when 234 folks have been staying there. It took 12 hours to place out.

An investigation has been launched into the incident and there have been conflicting reviews about whether or not the resort was as much as security requirements.

9 folks have been arrested, together with the resort’s proprietor.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited Bolu on Wednesday, stated these accountable for negligence resulting in the fireplace “will likely be held accountable”.

Flags are flying at half-mast throughout Turkey in reminiscence of the victims of the fireplace, whereas the primary funerals are being held.

Search and rescue groups are making their closing efforts to seek out any remaining our bodies.

The authorities stated that they have been assessing all dangers, together with the opportunity of collapse, for the constructing.

Alongside the fatalities, 51 folks have been injured within the hearth, in accordance with well being minister Kemal Memisoglu. One was receiving remedy in intensive care, and 17 folks have been discharged. Family members have been gathering outdoors the hospitals the place they’re being handled.

An individual the BBC met in entrance of the morgue stated that he had obtained information that seven of his family members had died and that he had visited hospitals searching for their our bodies. He later discovered that the morgue was empty.

Footage circulating confirmed linen hanging from home windows which was utilized by these attempting to flee the burning constructing. On Wednesday, these may nonetheless be seen swaying within the wind.

The reason for the fireplace has not but been discovered, however Bolu governor Abdulaziz Aydin stated preliminary reviews prompt it had damaged out within the restaurant part of the resort’s fourth ground and unfold to the flooring above.

Aydin stated the resort’s distant location and freezing circumstances meant it took greater than an hour for hearth engines to reach.

The resort was final inspected in 2024, and the tourism minister stated there had been no issues relating to the resort’s hearth security previous to Tuesday’s catastrophe.

Nonetheless, the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) stated that, in accordance with laws, an computerized hearth extinguisher system was wanted, and it appeared from pictures of the resort that one had not been put in.

It added that it was unclear if different laws had been complied with, however based mostly on the statements of survivors, “it’s understood that the detection and warning methods didn’t work and the escape routes couldn’t be decided”.

Some survivors reported that they’d not heard any hearth alarms.

The Bolu mountains are in style with skiers from Istanbul and Turkey’s capital Ankara, which is roughly 170km (105 miles) away, and the resort was working at excessive occupancy firstly of the two-week faculty holidays.

Details about those that died within the hearth is constant to emerge, though a few of the our bodies are nonetheless to be recognized. At the least two folks have been killed after they tried to leap to security.

Many kids and younger persons are among the many useless and, in lots of instances, a number of members of the identical household have been killed.

Turkish Airways confirmed that Zehra Sena Gültekin died alongside together with her husband, businessman Bilal Gültekin, and three kids. Boğaziçi Executives Basis stated two of Bilal’s siblings have been additionally killed.

These included Dr Enes Gültekin, who the Medical Union stated had died, together with Izmir dentist Dr Kübra Tonguç Altın and his daughter Alya.

Greater than 10 members of the Gültekin household are thought to have died in whole. President Erdogan and his spouse attended the household’s funeral on Wednesday.

Dentist Dr Burak Hasar introduced that his colleague of 15-years, Dr Yasemen Boncuk Tüzgiray, her husband Dr Erhan Tüzgiray, and their kids Defne and Demir had all died.

The Turkish Wind Vitality Affiliation introduced that two executives from considered one of its members, Inovat Vitality Storage Options, have been killed. They’re the corporate’s CEO Can Tokcan, his brother Atıl Enis Tokcan, and their kids Kemal and Atlas Kaan.

Tarsus American School introduced the dying of its graduates Mert Doğan, his spouse Duygu, and their kids Mavi and Doğa, in addition to one other graduate’s grandson Ömür Kotan.

The İELEV Colleges affiliation introduced the dying of scholars Pelin Güngör, her mom Burcu, father Kıvanç and brother Kerem.

Workers on the resort have been additionally killed, together with chef Eslem Uyanik. Turkish media quoted Süleyman Nazik, who stated his daughter, Esra Nazik, had died and had simply began working there.

Prof Dr Atakan Yalçın, who labored on the Özyeğin College College of Enterprise, and his daughter Elif Derin, each died.

Nedim Turkmen, a author for Sozcu newspaper, his spouse Ayse Neva, and their two kids, 18-year-old Ala Dora and 22-year-old Yüce Ata, have been all killed.

TED Istanbul School introduced the dying of scholars Alican Boduroğlu, his sister Elif Nas, in addition to their mom Ebru.

In the meantime, TED Ankara School shared the information of the dying of Eren Bağcı on its social media accounts.

Dilara Ermanoglu, 24, was additionally among the many victims, and her father who had gone to Bolu to search for her was handled by well being employees for a coronary heart assault.

Vedia Nil Apak, a 10-year-old swimmer with Fenerbahce Sports activities Membership in Istanbul, additionally died, alongside together with her mom Ferda.

Membership administration additionally stated that Ceren Yaman Doğan, the spouse of the vp of its Bolu affiliation, and their 17-year-old daughter Lalin, have been killed. Ceren was additionally the daughter of a well known native businessman.

Mehmet Cem Doğan, the Bolu manufacturing facility director for OYAK cement, died, as did his spouse Ayşemin Elif and daughter Ayşe Maya.

The Turkish Neurology Affiliation stated its member, Dr Ahmet Çetiz, was killed alongside his household.

Başkent College revealed a condolence message relating to the dying of its graduate Müge Suyolcu and her daughter Pera.

The dying of intern physician Yiğit Gençbay, a senior scholar on the college’s medication division, was additionally introduced.