Deadly Fire at Ski Resort Hotel in Northwestern Turkey Kills 10, Injures 32

A devastating fire broke out at a hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday, killing at least 10 people and leaving 32 others hospitalized, officials confirmed. The fire, which began overnight in the hotel’s restaurant, spread rapidly, engulfing the building in smoke and flames.

Two victims reportedly died after jumping out of the building in panic, while others attempted to climb down using sheets from their rooms. The hotel, located in Bolu province, was home to 234 guests at the time of the fire.

Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, recounted how he was asleep when the fire started and helped evacuate around 20 guests. He expressed concern for some of his students, who he was unable to reach in the chaos.

Television images showed the roof and top floors of the hotel ablaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with some speculating that the wooden cladding on the building’s exterior may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

The fire occurred during Turkey’s school semester break, when the resort is typically crowded. Authorities dispatched 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances to the scene, and other nearby hotels were evacuated as a precaution.