A deadly fire broke out early Tuesday morning at a 12-story hotel in Kartalkaya - a well-known ski resort in northwestern Turkey - claiming the lives of at least 76 people, including schoolchildren on a winter break.
The blaze, which started in the hotel’s restaurant section, also left 51 people injured, some seriously, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
The fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Koroglu Mountains, about 300 kilometers east of Istanbul, erupted around 3:27 a.m. While many guests attempted to escape the flames, at least two victims tragically died after jumping from the building in desperation.
"Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning," Yerlikaya said, adding that those responsible for the tragedy would face justice.
Atakan Yelkovan, a guest on the third floor, described the chaotic scene as guests scrambled to flee the fire. “People on the upper floors were screaming. They hung sheets down. Some tried to jump,” Yelkovan recounted. Efforts to evacuate were complicated by thick smoke and a failed fire alarm system, witnesses reported.
The fire department responded quickly, arriving around 4:15 a.m., but the hotel’s wooden exterior cladding, designed in a chalet style, may have fueled the rapid spread of the flames. With the hotel perched on the side of a cliff, firefighting efforts were hampered, and the rear side was inaccessible for fire trucks.
Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu confirmed that at least one of the injured was in critical condition, while 17 others were treated and released. Emergency teams continued their search for victims, and authorities identified 45 of the deceased so far. The hotel had 238 registered guests, and the investigation is ongoing.
The Turkish government has appointed six prosecutors to investigate the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in the hotel’s restaurant. Nine individuals, including the hotel owner, have been detained for questioning.
In a show of solidarity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday a day of national mourning, with flags at government buildings lowered to half-staff.
“We received very sad news from Bolu, Kartalkaya,” Erdogan said, vowing that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure accountability.
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