January 21, 2025: Tragedy struck the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey’s popular ski resort of Kartalkaya early Tuesday morning as a devastating fire claimed the lives of at least 66 people and left 51 others injured. The fire, which broke out at around 3:30 a.m. in the hotel's restaurant, quickly engulfed the 12-story building, authorities reported.
Bolu province’s Governor, Abdulaziz Aydin, confirmed that two of the fatalities resulted from panic-stricken guests jumping out of windows in an attempt to escape the blaze. Several others reportedly used makeshift ropes of bedsheets and blankets to descend from their rooms.
The Grand Kartal Hotel, a 161-room establishment perched on a cliffside, was hosting 234 guests at the time of the fire. Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan recounted waking up to thick smoke that made it nearly impossible to find the fire escape. "I managed to help about 20 guests out of the building, but I still can't reach some of my students," he said in an emotional interview with NTV television.
Television footage showed flames engulfing the upper floors and roof of the hotel, with plumes of smoke rising into the sky. The wooden cladding on the hotel’s chalet-style exterior is suspected of having accelerated the spread of the fire, according to preliminary reports from NTV.
The government has appointed six prosecutors to investigate the incident. While the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, officials are focusing on the construction materials and fire safety measures at the resort.
Emergency responders dispatched 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances to the site. Efforts to combat the flames were reportedly hampered by the hotel's cliffside location, making it challenging for fire crews to access certain areas.
Kartalkaya, located approximately 300 kilometers east of Istanbul, is a sought-after winter destination nestled in the Koroglu mountains. The fire occurred during the school semester break, a peak season for the region's hotels, all of which were fully booked.
As a precaution, other hotels in the area were evacuated, and displaced guests were relocated to accommodations across Bolu.
Authorities and rescue teams continue their search for survivors, while the entire nation mourns the tragedy.