Over 50 people have also been injured in the fire at a hotel in the country’s Bolu province
A fire at a ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey has killed at least 66 people and injured over 50, some critically, the country’s interior minister said on Tuesday. The blaze broke out in the early morning at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort, a popular winter destination in Bolu province.
According to Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the fire started on the restaurant floor of the 12-story hotel around 3:30am and it took the fire department 45 minutes to respond. The flames were said to have spread rapidly, fueled by timber cladding on the building.
Witnesses reported seeing thick black smoke engulf the 161-room hotel within minutes, forcing guests and staff to flee in panic. Yerlikaya told reporters that the hotel was hosting 238 guests at the time, many of whom were families visiting during a nationwide two-week school holiday.
INCIDENT UPDATE: A major fire at a hotel in the Turkish ski resort of Bolu has killed at least 66 people and injured dozens more. The fire broke out at the 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) during a busy holiday period when 234 people were staying… pic.twitter.com/v5LJkPQiLf
— The Risk Intelligence Group (@riskintelgroup) January 21, 2025
According to Governor Abdulaziz Aydin’s office, firefighters battled the flames for hours as strong winds made containment difficult. Officials said the hotel’s location near a cliff had complicated evacuation efforts, and some guests resorted to jumping from windows or using bed sheets to escape, leading to additional injuries. The office also reported that at least two people had died after jumping from the building in panic.
Officials have since confirmed that six prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the fire. Authorities are examining possible safety violations and whether the hotel’s fire prevention systems were functioning properly. Survivors have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, with several in critical condition.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has commented on the tragedy, vowing during an address in Ankara that “all necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable.”
