Following a fire at a Turkish ski resort hotel that left at least 66 people dead and 51 injured, the Turkish President Erdogan has announced consequences.
Erdogan stated on Tuesday, “All necessary steps will be taken to clarify all aspects of the incident and hold the responsible parties accountable.” Six state prosecutors and a five-member expert committee have already been tasked with the investigation.
The fire broke out early in the morning in the 11-story hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Turkish province of Bolu. The hotel’s location on a cliff posed significant challenges for the firefighters as they struggled to bring the flames under control.
The tragedy coincides with the school holidays in Turkey, a peak season for families from Istanbul and Ankara to visit the Bolu Mountains for winter sports. At the time of the incident, according to Bolu’s governor, Abdulaziz Aydin, the hotel was hosting 234 guests.
EU Commissioner for Equality, Prevention, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, who is currently on an official visit in Turkey, expressed her “deepest condolences” to the country and the families of the victims. The EU stands in solidarity with Turkey and offers support through the EU’s disaster response mechanism.