Authorities say nine people have been arrested in relation to the fire at the Kartalkaya ski resort. (Reuters: Murad Sezer)
In short:
Funerals have been held for families, including for numerous children killed by the blaze in Türkiye's Bolu mountains.
The fire at the forced panicked hotel guests to jump from windows in the middle of the night.
Nine people have been arrested as part of an investigation.
A day of mourning was underway in Türkiye as it emerged numerous children were among the 76 victims of a fire at a ski resort.
Nine people have been arrested after the blaze tore through the 12-storey Kartalkaya hotel, in Bolu, western Türkiye, at around 03.30am on Tuesday, local time, forcing some people to jump from windows in the middle of the night.
President Tayyip Erdogan, who attended one funeral for eight victims on Wednesday, said that the country's "hearts and souls are hurting" and anyone found responsible for negligence in relation to the tragedy "will be held accountable".
At the time of the fire, the hotel had 238 registered guests. At least 20 victims of the blaze were children, according to local media.
Among those arrested by police was the hotel's owner.
At one funeral in Ankara, the coffins of a family of five were lined up at the central Ahmet Hamdi Akseki mosque.
The parents, a doctor and teacher, had gone to Kartalkaya with their three children to ski during a mid-year school break, according to a Reuters witness at the funeral.
Investigation underway
So far, the remains of 45 victims have been handed over to their families, while forensic DNA tests are being conducted to identify the others, the government said.
Local authorities have faced criticism amid reports from survivors that no fire alarms were heard during the blaze. It has also been claimed there were no fire escapes at the hotel and footage of the structure showed linen hanging from windows where people had tried to get out.
Guests said they had to navigate the smoke-filled corridors in complete darkness as they fled.
The hotel pledged full cooperation with the investigation and said it was "deeply saddened by the losses."
Reuters/AFP
