Wednesday, 22 January, 2025
The death toll from a fire that ravaged a hotel at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday has risen to 66, according to the country’s interior minister.
Witnesses reported that desperate guests attempted to flee using ropes, with images showing bedsheets hanging from windows. Some media reports indicate that several people died after attempting to jump to safety.
Several ministers have arrived at the scene at the Kartalkaya resort, located about 170 kilometres (100 miles) northwest of Ankara. Authorities confirmed that the fire has now been contained.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, speaking at Kartalkaya, expressed the nation’s grief: “Our pain is immense. Sixty-six of our citizens have lost their lives, and 51 others have been injured.”
The fire began at 3:27 AM (0027 GMT) at the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel, which features wooden cladding, Yerlikaya said. The hotel had 238 registered guests, many of whom were on vacation during a two-week school holiday.
Private broadcaster NTV reported that three victims were among those who jumped from the hotel’s windows.
The fire is believed to have originated in the restaurant before rapidly spreading throughout the building. The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Part of the hotel’s structure faces a cliff, making it difficult for firefighters to access the flames.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cut short an address at his ruling AKP party congress in Ankara to express his sorrow: “Our pain is great, our hearts are heavy.” He confirmed that both administrative and judicial investigations have been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
“All necessary actions will be taken to fully investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable,” he assured.
Television footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky, with snow-capped mountains in the backdrop.
Baris Salgur, an employee at a nearby hotel, recalled hearing screams around midnight. "The residents were shouting for help," he told NTV. "They were asking for blankets, saying they would jump. We did what we could—we brought rope, pillows, and even a sofa. Some people jumped once the flames got too close."
Footage from inside the hotel showed a wrecked lobby, with shards of glass on the floor and charred wooden furniture. Authorities warned that parts of the building might collapse.
A survivor who managed to escape the fire told local media that no alarms sounded when the fire broke out. They also criticized the hotel for lacking safety measures, such as fire stairs and smoke detectors.
Tourism Minister Nuri Ersoy confirmed that the hotel had two fire escapes.
Footage showed sheets tied together and hanging from the hotel’s windows, as some guests used them to escape the flames.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that six prosecutors had been assigned to investigate the fire.
Those who were evacuated have been relocated to nearby hotels.
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The death toll from a fire that ravaged a hotel at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday has risen to 66, according to the country’s interior minister.
Witnesses reported that desperate guests attempted to flee using ropes, with images showing bedsheets hanging from windows. Some media reports indicate that several people died after attempting to jump to safety.
Several ministers have arrived at the scene at the Kartalkaya resort, located about 170 kilometres (100 miles) northwest of Ankara. Authorities confirmed that the fire has now been contained.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, speaking at Kartalkaya, expressed the nation’s grief: “Our pain is immense. Sixty-six of our citizens have lost their lives, and 51 others have been injured.”
The fire began at 3:27 AM (0027 GMT) at the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel, which features wooden cladding, Yerlikaya said. The hotel had 238 registered guests, many of whom were on vacation during a two-week school holiday.
Private broadcaster NTV reported that three victims were among those who jumped from the hotel’s windows.
The fire is believed to have originated in the restaurant before rapidly spreading throughout the building. The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Part of the hotel’s structure faces a cliff, making it difficult for firefighters to access the flames.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cut short an address at his ruling AKP party congress in Ankara to express his sorrow: “Our pain is great, our hearts are heavy.” He confirmed that both administrative and judicial investigations have been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
“All necessary actions will be taken to fully investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable,” he assured.
Television footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky, with snow-capped mountains in the backdrop.
Baris Salgur, an employee at a nearby hotel, recalled hearing screams around midnight. "The residents were shouting for help," he told NTV. "They were asking for blankets, saying they would jump. We did what we could—we brought rope, pillows, and even a sofa. Some people jumped once the flames got too close."
Footage from inside the hotel showed a wrecked lobby, with shards of glass on the floor and charred wooden furniture. Authorities warned that parts of the building might collapse.
A survivor who managed to escape the fire told local media that no alarms sounded when the fire broke out. They also criticized the hotel for lacking safety measures, such as fire stairs and smoke detectors.
Tourism Minister Nuri Ersoy confirmed that the hotel had two fire escapes.
Footage showed sheets tied together and hanging from the hotel’s windows, as some guests used them to escape the flames.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that six prosecutors had been assigned to investigate the fire.
Those who were evacuated have been relocated to nearby hotels.
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