A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Resort, located in northwestern Turkey, has claimed at least 66 lives and left 51 injured. The tragedy, which unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday, has shocked the nation and raised questions about safety measures at the popular tourist destination.
"We are in deep pain," Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told reporters. "We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel." The fire began around 3:30 a.m. local time, engulfing the 12-story building and trapping many of the 238 registered guests inside.
Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin confirmed that the blaze originated in the restaurant on the hotel's fourth floor. Freezing weather conditions and the remote mountain location delayed the arrival of fire engines, with some taking over an hour to reach the scene. At least two victims "died after jumping from the building in a panic," Aydin said, adding that others appeared to have succumbed to suffocation.
Images from the scene showed harrowing attempts at escape, with bed sheets tied together and dangling from windows. Witnesses described hearing desperate cries for help. "I saw people shouting for help from the windows. We brought ropes, pillows, and quilts. Before firefighters arrived, two women jumped from the upper floors," Barış Salgür, an employee at a nearby hotel, recounted.
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A devastating fire erupted at a hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu, northwestern Turkey, early Tuesday morning, January 21, 2025. The blaze claimed at least 10 lives and injured 32 others, as confirmed by… pic.twitter.com/FtGdI12IxE — The Informant (@theinformant_x) January 21, 2025
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu stated that 34 injured individuals remain hospitalized, with one in critical condition. Seventeen others have been discharged. The Ministry of Health shared condolences on social media, saying, "May God have mercy on the citizens who lost their lives, and we send our condolences to their relatives. We wish a speedy recovery to our injured."
The cause of the fire is under investigation, with a judicial probe led by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed accountability. "Every necessary step is being taken and will continue to be taken to clarify the incident and hold those responsible accountable fully," he said in a statement.
The Grand Kartal Hotel had reportedly passed fire safety inspections in 2021 and 2024, according to Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. "No negative situation regarding fire competence had been reported," he stated. However, questions remain about whether existing safety measures were sufficient.
The tragedy has drawn national and international attention, with officials and public figures expressing condolences. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan wrote on social media, "I wish God's mercy upon our citizens who lost their lives in the fire that broke out in Bolu Kartalkaya and offer my condolences to their families and loved ones."
