Authorities in Istanbul, Turkey, evacuated a hotel after several tourists reportedly died from suspected poisoning, officials confirmed.
The tragedy began on Wednesday when a family fell ill after eating several popular street food dishes in the waterside neighbourhood of Ortakoy, near the Bosphorus. They were taken to hospital, but the two children, aged six and three, died on Thursday, and the mother passed away a day later, according to the Turkish Justice Minister.
The father remains in “critical condition”, Istanbul’s regional health chief Abdullah Emre Guner said.
Investigators are examining both the food the family consumed and conditions at the hotel. Reports indicate that a room on the hotel’s ground floor had recently been sprayed with pesticides, according to local news website.
Police have detained seven people in connection with the incident, including a hotel employee and two pest control workers, as authorities continue their investigation.
The hotel, located in a popular tourist district, has been temporarily closed, and guests were evacuated while officials conduct safety inspections. Authorities have urged anyone who stayed at the hotel recently and is experiencing unusual symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.
The incident has raised concerns about food safety and hygiene standards in Istanbul, with officials promising stricter enforcement of regulations in hotels and tourist areas.
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