(Rightallegiance.com) – A devastating fire at a ski resort hotel in Turkey’s Bolu mountains has claimed the lives of 66 people and left 51 others injured in a tragic incident that unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday. The fire, which erupted in the Grand Kartal Hotel located at the Kartalkaya ski resort in northwest Turkey, caused chaos and panic among guests, some of whom resorted to jumping from windows to escape the rapidly spreading flames.
Witnesses described the fire as catastrophic, with one observer, Mevlut Ozer, stating, “It was like the apocalypse. The flames engulfed the hotel immediately, like in half an hour.” According to local authorities, the blaze ignited around 3:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) on the restaurant floor of the 12-storey building. Firefighters and emergency responders arrived at the scene swiftly, but the fire had already engulfed large portions of the structure.
Images from the aftermath showed the hotel’s charred wooden exterior, with makeshift ropes made of tied-together bed sheets hanging from several upper-floor windows. Guests desperately attempted to escape the fire, with some tragically falling to their deaths. Omer Sakrak, an employee of a nearby hotel, recalled the terrifying scene: “People all started to jump with panic. One friend jumped from the 11th floor – may God have mercy on him.” He further recounted how some guests tried to descend using bed sheets, which tragically tore, leading to fatal falls.
Eyewitness accounts revealed harrowing moments as guests attempted to navigate through smoke-filled corridors, many reporting that they did not hear any fire alarms. A father was reportedly seen shouting in desperation, considering throwing his child from a window to save him from the fire.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that 238 guests were present at the time of the incident. Expressing his condolences, Yerlikaya said, “I would like to share this pain, which is impossible to describe.” He further explained the challenges faced by emergency teams, stating that the hotel’s rear position on a slope hindered firefighting efforts, limiting them to the front and sides. Emergency crews reportedly took around 45 minutes to begin actively fighting the fire after the first alert.
The fire coincided with the school holiday season, a period when families from major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara flock to the region to enjoy winter sports. The tragedy has cast a shadow over the holiday period and left the community in mourning.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire. Authorities have taken four individuals into custody, including the hotel’s owner, in connection with the incident. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed the detentions via a statement on social media platform X, emphasizing that authorities are committed to uncovering the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
The devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel has raised concerns over fire safety regulations and emergency response procedures at tourist accommodations in Turkey’s popular ski destinations. As investigations continue, the nation mourns the loss of lives and prays for the recovery of those injured in the horrific event.