A Devastating fire early Tuesday morning at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkey, has claimed the lives of at least 76 people, including schoolchildren on winter break. The blaze, which broke out in the hotel’s restaurant section, also left 51 people injured, some critically, as confirmed by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
The fire started at 3:27 a.m. in the 12-story hotel, located in the Koroglu Mountains, approximately 300 kilometers east of Istanbul. Amid the chaos, many guests tried to flee the flames, but tragically, two victims died after jumping from the building. “Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning,” Yerlikaya stated, vowing that those responsible for the tragedy would be held accountable.
Eyewitnesses described panic as guests on the upper floors screamed and sought escape, some hanging sheets out of windows or attempting to jump. “People on the upper floors were screaming. They hung sheets down. Some tried to jump,” recalled Atakan Yelkovan, a guest on the third floor. The thick smoke and a malfunctioning fire alarm system complicated evacuation efforts.
Firefighters arrived at 4:15 a.m., but the hotel’s wooden exterior cladding, designed in a chalet style, may have contributed to the swift spread of the flames. The hotel’s location on a cliffside also hampered firefighting efforts, with the rear of the building being inaccessible to fire trucks.
Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu reported that at least one injured individual remains in critical condition, while 17 others were treated and discharged. Emergency teams continue to search for additional victims, with 45 of the deceased identified so far. The hotel had 238 registered guests at the time, and an investigation is underway.
Six prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the cause of the fire, which is believed to have originated in the hotel’s restaurant. Nine people, including the hotel owner, have been detained for questioning.
In response to the tragedy, 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, pledging that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure accountability.