Amended Tragedy Strikes as Hotel Fire Claims 66 Lives at Ski Resort in Northwestern Turkey

A devastating fire at a popular ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey has left at least 66 people dead and 51 others injured. The blaze broke out early Tuesday at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, located in the Koroglu Mountains of Bolu province, approximately 300 kilometers east of Istanbul. The fire occurred during the start of a two-week winter break for schools, when the hotel, like many others in the region, was packed with guests.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the fire began at 3:27 a.m., and the first responders arrived nearly an hour later. Among the victims, at least two died when they jumped from the building in desperation to escape the flames. The fire was particularly deadly due to the building’s design and the apparent failure of the hotel’s fire alarm system.

Guests trapped on the upper floors attempted to escape by climbing down using sheets and blankets. Atakan Yelkovan, a guest on the third floor, described the chaotic scene as people screamed and tried to flee. “People on the upper floors were hanging down sheets… Some tried to jump,” Yelkovan recalled.

The hotel had 238 registered guests, and Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in the restaurant area. Four individuals, including the hotel’s owner, have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident.

In the aftermath, the Turkish government declared Wednesday a day of national mourning. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences and vowed to ensure accountability for the tragedy. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life in this horrific fire,” Erdogan said in a statement.

Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu confirmed that at least one person remains in serious condition, while 17 others have been treated and released. Rescue teams worked tirelessly, with 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances sent to the scene.

While officials indicated the hotel underwent inspections in 2021 and 2024 with no reported issues regarding fire safety, the investigation is ongoing. Reports suggested that the hotel’s wooden exterior may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, making firefighting efforts more difficult.

This tragedy is compounded by another incident in central Turkey, where a gas explosion at a hotel in the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center in Sivas province injured four people, including two skiers and their instructor.