A firefighting truck leaves the scene where a fire broke out at a hotel in the ski resort of Kartalkaya, located in Bolu province, northwest Turkiye, on January 21, 2025. (AP)

Turkiye has detained nine individuals, including the hotel owner, in connection with a deadly fire that resulted in 76 fatalities and injured numerous others at a ski resort in western Turkiye, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced early on Wednesday.

Yerlikaya also mentioned that the bodies of 45 victims had been returned to their families, while DNA tests were being carried out to identify the remaining bodies at the forensic institute.

The fire took place at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu mountains.

#BREAKING At least 234 guests at Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya in Bolu, Turkey where fire broke out, governor says. At least 10 dead, 32 injured. #Bolu #Kartalkaya #Turkiye #Fire pic.twitter.com/DIZWM1u8EB
— 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 (@HamdiCelikbas) January 21, 2025

In a statement on Wednesday, the hotel expressed profound sorrow and pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

The statement said, "We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident," adding, "We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts."

A fire RAGED through a 12-story hotel at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu Province, Turkey.
Tragically, at least 66 died and 51 were injured.
Just more confirmation of Hanke’s School Boy’s Theory of History: It’s just one damn thing after another.pic.twitter.com/iTrzukjwpT
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) January 21, 2025

The 12-story hotel, with 238 registered guests, was engulfed in flames after the fire began on the restaurant floor around 3:30 am (0030 GMT). Survivors recounted scenes of panic as they fled through smoke-filled corridors and jumped from windows to escape.

Authorities are facing increasing criticism regarding the hotel's safety measures, as survivors reported that no fire alarms were activated during the incident. Guests mentioned having to navigate smoke-filled corridors in complete darkness.

Erdogan declared on Wednesday a day of national mourning following the tragedy, which took place during the peak of the winter tourism season. Many families from Istanbul and Ankara had traveled to the Bolu mountains for skiing.