A tragic fire engulfed the 12-storey Grand Kartal hotel in Kartalkaya, a ski resort in Bolu province, northwestern Turkey, early Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 66 people and injuries to 51 others, according to a Reuters report. The fire broke out around 3:30 am in the restaurant of the hotel, which was housing 234 guests at the time. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, officials stated.
A massive fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, a ski resort in northwestern Turkey, killed at least 10 people and injured 32. The fire started early Tuesday in the hotel’s restaurant. Two victims died after jumping from the building. The hotel had 234 guests at the time. pic.twitter.com/3CQEkkBeLd
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Two victims reportedly died after jumping from the building in panic, as confirmed by Governor Abdulaziz Aydin to the state-run Anadolu Agency. Private NTV television reported that several guests attempted to escape by climbing down using sheets and blankets.
Witness Accounts
Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor staying at the hotel, recounted the chaos. He was asleep when the fire erupted and managed to escape, later assisting approximately 20 guests out of the building. Kepcetutan described the dense smoke that made it difficult for occupants to locate fire exits. “I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,” he told NTV.
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Television footage showed the roof and upper floors of the hotel ablaze. The hotel’s chalet-style wooden cladding may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, according to NTV reports. Positioned on the side of a cliff, the hotel’s location hindered firefighting efforts.
Six prosecutors have been appointed to investigate the incident thoroughly.
Emergency Response
Governor Aydin’s office confirmed the deployment of 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances to the scene. Adjacent hotels in the resort were evacuated as a precaution, and displaced guests were accommodated in other hotels in Bolu.
Kartalkaya, situated in the Koroglu mountains about 300 km east of Istanbul, is a popular destination, particularly during the school semester break when the fire occurred. Hotels in the region were reportedly at full capacity.
