Turkish security agents have detained nine people in connection with a deadly fire that killed 76 people and injured dozens at a ski resort in the western part of the country.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya who disclosed this early Wednesday, said the owner of the hotel has also been detained.
Yerlikaya also revealed that the bodies of 45 victims had been handed over to their families, while DNA tests were being conducted to identify the remaining bodies at the forensic institute.
The fire occurred at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu Mountains.
The hotel where the fire broke out expressed deep sorrow in a statement on Wednesday and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
“We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident,” the statement read.
“We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts.”
The 12-storey hotel which had 238 registered guests was consumed by flames after the fire started on the restaurant floor around 3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT).
Survivors described scenes of panic as they fled through smoke-filled corridors and jumped from windows to escape.
Authorities are facing growing criticism over the hotel’s safety measures, as survivors reported that no fire alarms went off during the incident.
Guests said they had to navigate the smoke-filled corridors in complete darkness.