Ten Dead in Turkish Ski Resort Hotel Fire

A tragic fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Turkish ski resort of Bolu has claimed the lives of 10 people and left 32 others injured, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed.

The fire erupted at approximately 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) during a busy holiday season when 234 people were staying at the 12-story hotel. Initial reports suggest the blaze started in the restaurant area on the fourth floor and spread to the upper levels.

Some guests resorted to desperate measures, with at least two victims reportedly jumping from windows to escape the flames. Footage circulating in Turkey showed makeshift ropes made of linens dangling from windows, used by guests attempting to flee.

Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan described the chaos: “People were shouting at the windows, ‘Save us,’ because there was intense smoke inside. We pulled 20-25 people out.”

The response was hindered by the hotel’s remote location in Kartalkaya, about 170km (105 miles) from Ankara, and freezing weather conditions, which delayed fire engines by over an hour. Bolu governor Abdulaziz Aydin reported that rescue operations continued into the morning, with 267 emergency personnel deployed to manage the crisis.

By mid-morning, parts of the hotel were still inaccessible due to the extensive damage. Neighboring hotels were evacuated as a precaution.

The cause of the fire remains unclear. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the blaze, with authorities scrutinizing whether any guests were trapped in their rooms as the fire spread.

The Bolu mountains, a favored destination for skiers from Istanbul and Ankara, were bustling at the start of Turkey’s two-week school holidays. The Grand Kartal Hotel was reportedly operating at high capacity when the disaster occurred.