Turkey ski resort fire kills at least 66 people

According to officials, at least 66 people have died in a hotel fire at a ski resort in northwest Turkey.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that the midnight fire, which started in the hotel restaurant in Kartalkaya, Bolu province, injured 51 people.

“We are in deep pain. After examining the scene, Yerlikaya informed reporters, ” We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel,” he claims

At least one of the injured was in critical condition, said Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu.

In a last-ditch effort to escape the flames, a number of terrified guests who were trapped in the inferno were compelled to jump from windows, according to Reuters.

In an attempt to escape from fire, two of the men died while jumping out of the building.

Cause of fire

The Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province, northwest Turkey, is where the fire happened. Located around midway between Istanbul and Ankara, Kartalkaya is a well-liked skiing location in the Köroğlu Mountains that is conveniently accessible from both cities.

The 12-story hotel was completely booked with 234 guests during the school semester break at the time of the event. The hotel’s wooden cladding may have contributed to the fire’s quick spread, and the building’s cliffside location made combating the fire more difficult. 

But still, the main cause of the fire is under investigation.

Emergency service with 250 responders were available 

Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, announced that 267 emergency personnel swiftly mobilized to tackle the devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort, located in Bolu province.

This rapid response involved firefighters, medical teams, and other rescue units working tirelessly to control the flames, assist the injured, and evacuate those trapped inside the building.

In addition, Turkey’s interior, health, and tourism ministers are heading to the site of the tragedy to assess the situation and coordinate further actions. 

The ministries confirmed that they will hold a press conference later on Tuesday to provide detailed updates on the incident, discuss the rescue efforts, share the current condition of the victims, and outline the investigation into the fire’s cause.

According to a CNN report, this visit reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the situation and ensuring accountability for the tragic event.

The fire caused significant damage and casualties despite the responders’ efforts. Reports indicate that the hotel’s fire detection system failed to activate. Authorities have assigned six prosecutors to investigate the cause of the incident as part of an ongoing inquiry.