Erdogan declared mourning in Turkey on Jan. 22 after deadly resort fire

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared January 22 a day of mourning in the country following a fire at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province.

"A day of mourning has been declared in our country due to the disaster. Flags will be lowered until sunset on Wednesday, January 22. This day is not a day of politics, but a day of unity and solidarity," Hürriyet newspaper quoted the president's statement as saying.

The head of state said that 458 people from various services and 156 pieces of equipment are fighting the fire. An investigation has been launched, during which the causes of the fire and those responsible for the tragedy will be established. Erdogan added that four people, including the owner of the resort, have been detained in the first stage.

Fire at a ski resort in Turkey. What is known

A large-scale overnight fire at a resort in Bolu occurred on the night of January 21. According to the latest data from the Turkish Interior Ministry, the incident killed 66 people and injured another 51. According to CNN Türk, the fire started in a wooden hotel located at an altitude of 2,200 meters at around 3:30 am, and the fire spread quickly. It is specified that there were almost 240 guests in the building that caught fire.

Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin said the fire has been largely brought under control. Two of the injured are in serious condition. The Russian embassy in Turkey said that there were no reports of Russians staying at the resort. At the same time, the diplomatic mission indicated that it remains in touch with local authorities because of the incident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences to Erdogan, relatives and friends of the victims in connection with the tragic consequences of the fire. The Russian leader also wished all the victims a speedy recovery, reports "Gazeta.Ru".