A fire at a ski resort hotel in Bolu, Turkey, has resulted in the loss of ten lives and injured many, sparking an urgent investigation into the cause.
Tragic Fire Claims Lives at Turkish Ski Resort Hotel
Tragic Fire Claims Lives at Turkish Ski Resort Hotel
Ten fatalities and 32 injuries reported after fire at Grand Kartal Hotel during peak ski season.
At approximately 03:27 local time, a fire erupted in the restaurant area of the Grand Kartal Hotel, which was bustling with guests for the winter holidays. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the tragic incident has left 10 individuals dead and a further 32 injured, with reports indicating that at least two of the victims perished after jumping from the windows in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
The 12-story hotel, situated in the popular ski region of Kartalkaya, was hosting 234 guests at the time of the fire. Eyewitness footage shared across media platforms showed linens festooned from windows as individuals tried to find their way out amid the smoke. Initially, it appeared the fire originated from the fourth-floor restaurant before rapidly consuming the upper levels of the building.
Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin highlighted the unfortunate delay in fire response, attributed to both the hotel’s remote location and freezing conditions, which hindered rescue operations. As of mid-morning, emergency services, comprising 267 personnel, were still attempting to access various sections of the hotel to assist remaining guests.
The incident has raised safety concerns across the vicinity, prompting the evacuation of a neighboring hotel as a precautionary measure. Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan, who managed to escape unharmed, recounted the harrowing scene, noting that many guests were overwhelmed by smoke and had to be assisted out.
As authorities piece together the events leading to this tragic fire, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, with prosecutors assigned to determine the circumstances surrounding the blaze. This disaster marks a grim chapter in the winter tourism of Bolu, a region frequently visited by skiers from major cities like Istanbul and Ankara.
The 12-story hotel, situated in the popular ski region of Kartalkaya, was hosting 234 guests at the time of the fire. Eyewitness footage shared across media platforms showed linens festooned from windows as individuals tried to find their way out amid the smoke. Initially, it appeared the fire originated from the fourth-floor restaurant before rapidly consuming the upper levels of the building.
Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin highlighted the unfortunate delay in fire response, attributed to both the hotel’s remote location and freezing conditions, which hindered rescue operations. As of mid-morning, emergency services, comprising 267 personnel, were still attempting to access various sections of the hotel to assist remaining guests.
The incident has raised safety concerns across the vicinity, prompting the evacuation of a neighboring hotel as a precautionary measure. Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan, who managed to escape unharmed, recounted the harrowing scene, noting that many guests were overwhelmed by smoke and had to be assisted out.
As authorities piece together the events leading to this tragic fire, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, with prosecutors assigned to determine the circumstances surrounding the blaze. This disaster marks a grim chapter in the winter tourism of Bolu, a region frequently visited by skiers from major cities like Istanbul and Ankara.
