A massive fire broke out at a 12-story hotel in Kartalkaya, Turkey, during the school holiday, killing at least 66 people and injuring 51. The tragedy occurred at the Grand Kartal hotel, with witnesses reporting chaotic scenes as guests attempted to escape the inferno.
A devastating fire ripped through a 12-story hotel in the popular ski resort of Kartalkaya , Turkey , claiming the lives of at least 66 people and injuring 51 others. The tragedy unfolded at the Grand Kartal hotel in Bolu province's Koroglu mountains, approximately 300 kilometers east of Istanbul, during the schools' semester break when hotels in the region were at full capacity. The fire, which broke out in the hotel's restaurant section at 3:27 a.m., sent shockwaves through the nation.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the grim toll, describing the scene as one of deep sorrow. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu reported that at least one of the injured was in critical condition, while 17 others had been discharged after receiving treatment. The hotel housed 238 registered guests, many of whom were left scrambling for their lives as the flames engulfed the building.Eyewitness accounts revealed a scene of panic and chaos. Guests recounted desperate attempts to escape the inferno, with some resorting to climbing down from their rooms using sheets and blankets. Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, shared his harrowing experience of waking up to the raging fire and helping approximately 20 guests to safety. He expressed concern for his missing students, hoping for their well-being. Television footage captured the roof and top floors of the Grand Kartal ablaze, with smoke billowing into the night sky. Reports suggested that the hotel's fire detection system failed to activate, hindering early warnings and exacerbating the tragedy. Witness testimonies pointed to the hotel's wooden cladding, designed in a chalet style, potentially accelerating the spread of the fire. The hotel's location, partially situated on a cliff, further complicated firefighting efforts, restricting access and hindering containment efforts. Turkish authorities have dispatched a team of six prosecutors to investigate the cause of the blaze, with preliminary findings suggesting the fire originated in the hotel's restaurant. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the nation, expressing condolences to the families of the victims and assuring the public that all necessary steps would be taken to hold those responsible accountable.The fire left a trail of destruction, with images showing a smoke-blackened lobby, shattered glass, and a charred wooden reception desk. Emergency services responded swiftly, deploying 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances to the scene. As a precautionary measure, other hotels in the resort were evacuated, and guests were temporarily housed in hotels throughout Bolu. Adding to the tragedy, a separate incident occurred at another ski resort in central Turkey, where a gas explosion at a hotel injured four individuals. The explosion took place at the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center in Sivas province, injuring two skiers, their instructor, and another instructor who sustained second-degree burns
TURKEY FIRE HOTEL FATALITIES INVESTIGATION SKI RESORT KARTALKAYA GRAND KARTAL
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