A catastrophic fire engulfed the Grand Kartal hotel at a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkey, claiming at least 66 lives and injuring 51 others. The fire broke out at the 12-story establishment located in Kartalkaya, nestled within Bolu province's Koroglu mountains. The blaze started in the hotel's restaurant section and was reported in the early hours of the morning, at 3:27 a.m. The local fire department began responding around 4:15 a.m., but efforts to control the flames were hampered by the hotel's precarious position on a cliffside.
The tragedy has left the nation in mourning, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declaring a day of national mourning to be observed on Wednesday. He expressed his condolences, stating:
"Unfortunately, we received very sad news this morning from Bolu, Kartalkaya. Our brothers and sisters were killed and injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel."
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Eyewitness accounts painted a harrowing picture of the chaos as the fire spread through the hotel. Atakan Yelkovan, a guest at the hotel, described the desperate situation:
"People on the upper floors were screaming. They hung down sheets… Some tried to jump."
- Atakan Yelkovan
Yelkovan's wife first noticed the smell of burning, but alarmingly, the hotel's alarm system did not activate. They attempted to escape the flames by moving downstairs and outside.
"My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off."
- Atakan Yelkovan
"We tried to go upstairs but couldn't, there were flames. We went downstairs and came here (outside)."
- Atakan Yelkovan
The firefighting teams faced significant challenges due to the hotel's location. The rear side of the building is situated on a slope, limiting access for emergency response teams.
"Because the rear side is on a slope, intervention could only be made from the front and sides."
- Ali Yerlikaya
In total, 238 guests were registered at the hotel when the fire erupted. Among those injured, one person remains in serious condition while 17 others have already been treated and released. The emergency response was delayed, as it took approximately an hour for firefighting teams to arrive at the scene.
The Grand Kartal hotel had undergone inspections in both 2021 and 2024, with no negative reports concerning fire safety. However, in light of this tragic incident, four individuals, including the hotel's owner, have been detained for questioning as authorities investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding the blaze. The government has appointed six prosecutors to lead this investigation.
Ali Yerlikaya expressed sorrow over the loss of life:
"We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel."
- Ali Yerlikaya
President Erdogan reassured the public that all necessary measures would be taken to uncover the truth behind this disaster and to hold accountable those responsible for any negligence or wrongdoing.
"All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable."
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Amidst the turmoil, Necmi Kepcetutan, a teacher on vacation with his students, voiced his concern about their safety:
"I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK."
- Necmi Kepcetutan