At least 76 people have died in a fire that swept through a renowned Turkish ski resort hotel, forcing some to leap out of windows.
The blaze started at the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu, a wooden-clad structure, at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) during a peak holiday period with 234 guests on-site.
The initial death toll of 10 escalated significantly soon after the fire, as confirmed by Turkey's interior ministry. Rescue attempts resulted in at least two fatalities from people leaping to escape the flames.
It took 12 hours to extinguish the fire, during which nine individuals, including the owner, were apprehended, according to the justice minister.
While the identities of all 76 victims are pending confirmation, the casualties revealed include notable figures such as Vedia Nil Apak, a 10-year-old swimmer, and her mother Ferda, among others.
The tragic incident was mourned by Fenerbahce Sports Club on social media, with an Instagram post expressing their "deep sorrow."
Individuals such as Eslem Uyanik, a young chef, and Ceren Yaman Dogan, the daughter of a local businessman, perished in the fire, along with several others whose identities have been disclosed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, with preliminary reports suggesting it originated in the hotel's restaurant area on the fourth floor before spreading upwards.
Due to the hotel's location and severe weather conditions, emergency response time was delayed, as it took over an hour for fire brigades to reach the scene in Kartalkaya.
The tragic incident has prompted the declaration of a national day of mourning in Turkey, and the Turkish president has vowed to hold those responsible for negligence accountable.