Fire at Ski Resort in Türkiye Claims 76 Lives
A tragic fire at a ski resort hotel in Türkiye’s Bolu province has resulted in the deaths of 76 individuals, with more than 50 others suffering injuries, some of which are critical. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
A devastating fire at a ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey has resulted in the deaths of at least 76 individuals and left over 50 injured, with some in critical condition, as reported by the country’s interior minister on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the early hours at the Grand Kartal Hotel, situated within the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province, a favored winter getaway.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya indicated that the burning began around 3:30 a.m. on the restaurant floor of the 12-story building, and it took the fire department 45 minutes to arrive on the scene. The rapid spread of the flames was reportedly intensified by timber cladding on the structure.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos as thick black smoke quickly enveloped the 161-room hotel, prompting frantic attempts by guests and staff to escape. Yerlikaya stated that there were 238 guests in the hotel at the time, many of whom were families taking advantage of a nationwide two-week school holiday.
According to the office of Governor Abdulaziz Aydin, firefighters fought the blaze for several hours, hindered by strong winds that complicated containment efforts. The hotel’s precarious location on a cliff made evacuation challenging, with some guests resorting to jumping from windows or using bed sheets to escape, resulting in additional injuries. The governor’s office also indicated that at least two individuals had died after jumping in desperation.
In light of the tragedy, officials have assigned six prosecutors to investigate the incident, focusing on potential safety violations and the functionality of the hotel’s fire prevention systems. Survivors are currently receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, with several cases deemed critical.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan weighed in on the incident, asserting during a speech in Ankara that “all necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable.”
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya indicated that the burning began around 3:30 a.m. on the restaurant floor of the 12-story building, and it took the fire department 45 minutes to arrive on the scene. The rapid spread of the flames was reportedly intensified by timber cladding on the structure.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos as thick black smoke quickly enveloped the 161-room hotel, prompting frantic attempts by guests and staff to escape. Yerlikaya stated that there were 238 guests in the hotel at the time, many of whom were families taking advantage of a nationwide two-week school holiday.
According to the office of Governor Abdulaziz Aydin, firefighters fought the blaze for several hours, hindered by strong winds that complicated containment efforts. The hotel’s precarious location on a cliff made evacuation challenging, with some guests resorting to jumping from windows or using bed sheets to escape, resulting in additional injuries. The governor’s office also indicated that at least two individuals had died after jumping in desperation.
In light of the tragedy, officials have assigned six prosecutors to investigate the incident, focusing on potential safety violations and the functionality of the hotel’s fire prevention systems. Survivors are currently receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, with several cases deemed critical.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan weighed in on the incident, asserting during a speech in Ankara that “all necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable.”
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
