Tragedy strikes Turkish ski resort: 66 dead, owner detained
Four people, including the hotel owner, have been detained. This is the latest news from Turkey following the fire at the facility, where 66 people have died and 51 were injured.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced the detention of four people, including the owner of the hotel, where a massive fire broke out.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised severe punishments for those responsible for the tragedy.
The drama unfolded about 300 kilometres east of Istanbul. The Kartalkaya resort is a popular winter travel destination in Turkey, and during holidays, the centres are full of guests. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and authorities are investigating the matter.
Tragedy at the ski resort
As a result of the tragic fire at the ski resort, 66 people died and 51 were seriously injured. The fire broke out in the hotel restaurant and quickly spread to other parts of the building.
At the time of the incident, there were 234 guests in the hotel. Witnesses describe dramatic scenes as guests tried to escape the burning building, jumping from windows or sliding down on improvised sheets.
Thirty fire trucks and 28 ambulances were dispatched to the scene. Nearby hotels were also evacuated.
