Turkish authorities have arrested nine people in connection with Tuesday's fire at a ski resort hotel that killed 76 people.
The arrests, announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Wednesday, included the hotel owner, with questions raised over the security measures in place, the Telegraph reports.
The government has appointed six prosecutors to lead an investigation into the fire, which is believed to have started in the restaurant section of the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel, which is located in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu mountains.
Authorities are facing growing criticism. Witnesses and reports have suggested that the hotel's fire detection system failed to work.
Survivors among the 238 registered guests reported that no fire alarms went off during the incident, and that they had to run through smoke-filled hallways in complete darkness.
Hotel guests described scenes of panic as they fled and jumped out of windows to escape.
Yerlikaya reported that the bodies of 45 victims had been handed over to their families, while DNA tests were being conducted to identify the remaining bodies.
"Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning," the minister told reporters outside the hotel.
"But you should know that whoever is responsible for causing this pain will not escape justice," he added.
The hotel management expressed deep sorrow and pledged full cooperation with the authorities to investigate the case.
"We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident," a statement said.
"We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts," they added.
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a national day of mourning on Wednesday. The incident occurred at the peak of the winter tourist season.
Kartalkaya, about 295 kilometers east of Istanbul, is one of Turkey's top destinations, attracting thousands of visitors during the ski season. /Telegraph//
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