Tragedy struck the popular ski resort of Kartalkaya in Turkey’s Bolu province early Tuesday morning, as a raging inferno consumed the 12-story Grand Kartal hotel, claiming the lives of at least 66 people and injuring 51 others. The fire, which broke out around 3:30 am in the hotel’s restaurant, quickly engulfed the entire structure, sending panicked guests leaping from windows and scrambling down bedsheets in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who delivered the grim news after inspecting the smoldering ruins, the death toll from the blaze has reached a staggering 66, with dozens more wounded. Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu confirmed that at least one victim remains in critical condition as medical teams race to treat the injured.
Guests Leap from Windows as Fire Rages
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the chaos that unfolded as the fire rapidly spread through the hotel. Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin revealed that two victims perished after jumping from the burning building in sheer panic. Television footage captured the terror as some guests attempted to climb down from their rooms using sheets and blankets tied together.
Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor staying at the hotel, recounted his narrow escape after being awakened by the blaze. After helping approximately 20 other guests flee the inferno, Kepcetutan described a scene of utter pandemonium, with thick smoke filling the hallways and obscuring the fire exits. “I cannot reach some of my students,” he told reporters, his voice heavy with concern. “I hope they are OK.”
Hotel’s Fire Detection System Fails
As investigators comb through the charred remains of the once-bustling resort, troubling reports have emerged suggesting that the hotel’s fire detection system failed to operate properly. Guest Atakan Yelkovan, who was staying on the third floor with his wife, recounted how they were alerted to the danger not by alarms, but by the acrid smell of smoke. “The alarm did not go off,” he stated grimly.
“We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t, there were flames. We went downstairs and came here [outside],” Yelkovan recalled, describing the frantic escape. He estimated that it took firefighters nearly an hour to arrive on the scene as the blaze raged out of control.
Investigation Launched as Nation Mourns
In the wake of the catastrophe, the Turkish government has appointed a team of six prosecutors to oversee the investigation into the deadly fire. Preliminary reports suggest that the hotel’s wooden exterior cladding may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, though a definitive cause has yet to be determined.
As the nation grapples with the immense loss of life, other hotels in the popular winter resort area have been evacuated as a precautionary measure, with displaced guests relocated to nearby accommodations. The tragedy has cast a pall over the region, which had been bustling with visitors during the school semester break.
A Solemn Reminder of Fire Safety’s Importance
The Kartalkaya hotel fire serves as a grim reminder of the paramount importance of fire safety measures, particularly in high-occupancy buildings like resorts and hotels. As authorities work to uncover the causes of this devastating blaze, the nation mourns the lives lost and rallies around the survivors and families impacted by this unfathomable tragedy.
In the coming days and weeks, difficult questions will be asked, and hard lessons will be learned. But for now, the focus remains on supporting those affected, honoring the memory of the victims, and ensuring that such a catastrophic loss of life never happens again.
