At least 66 people are confirmed dead after a devastating fire engulfed a ski resort hotel in Turkey. The Grand Kartal Otel, a 161-room hotel, was nearly fully booked with 234 guests due to schools being on break. The fire started around 3:27 am and spread quickly through the largely wooden structure, with flames and smoke still visible even after 30 fire engines arrived.
Two people died jumping from windows of the hotel, while others escaped by scaling down the walls using bedsheets hung from windows. Some people were feared trapped inside, with one guest saying it took an hour for firefighters to arrive. The hotel’s restaurant is believed to be the starting point of the fire, which quickly spread through the 12-storey building.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation, with a judicial investigation launched by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. A 5-person expert committee has been formed to conduct the investigation, which is being carried out meticulously.
The mountainous region is one of Turkey’s top destinations for winter holidays, and the hotel had passed fire inspections in 2021 and 2024. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also offered condolences to those affected by the tragedy, saying he wished for a speedy recovery to all those involved.