A day of mourning is taking place in Turkey for the 76 victims of a fire that swept through a popular ski resort hotel in the country's northwest.
The fire erupted at the wooden-clad 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) during a busy holiday period with 234 people inside. It took 12 hours to extinguish.
An investigation has been initiated into the incident, with conflicting reports regarding the hotel's compliance with safety standards. Nine individuals, including the hotel's owner, have been detained.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, set to visit Bolu on Wednesday, stated that those accountable for negligence leading to the fire "will be held responsible".
Flags fly at half-mast throughout Turkey in honor of the fire victims, as initial funerals are held. Search and rescue teams are conducting final searches for any remaining bodies.
Authorities are evaluating all risks, including concerns of building collapse. Alongside the 76 fatalities, 51 individuals were injured, with one in intensive care and 17 discharged. Relatives are gathering outside hospitals where the injured are receiving treatment.
Footage shows linen hanging from windows as occupants sought to escape the blaze. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though reports suggest it began in the hotel's restaurant section on the fourth floor.
The hotel's remote location and freezing conditions delayed fire engine arrival, according to Bolu governor Abdulaziz Aydin.
While the hotel had no previous fire safety issues, the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects highlighted missing safety equipment and non-functional warning systems based on survivors' accounts.
The victims include numerous families, professionals, and students from different institutions, including the health worker treating Dilara Ermanoglu's father for a heart attack.
The Turkish Wind Energy Association, Tarsus American College, İELEV Schools, TED Istanbul College, and others mourn the loss of colleagues, students, and their families in the tragic event.
The Turkish Neurology Association mourned the loss of its member, Dr. Ahmet Çetiz, and his family in the fire.