The death toll from the fire at the ski resort hotel in Turkey’s northwestern Bolu mountainous region has risen to 76. Additionally, more than 50 people have been injured in the incident, some of whom are in critical condition.
This information was shared by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in a message on Tuesday night. He also stated that efforts are underway to identify the deceased, but many bodies remain unidentified due to severe burns.
The hotel that suffered the devastating fire is named Grand Kartal Hotel. It is located near the Kartalkaya Ski Resort in the Bolu mountainous area, which is a popular winter tourism destination in Turkey.
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The fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel on Tuesday at 3:30 PM local time. The blaze is believed to have started in the kitchen. In his message, the Interior Minister explained that due to the steep and uneven mountain roads, it took 45 minutes for the fire service personnel to reach the scene. In those 45 minutes, the fire had already turned catastrophic.
The Grand Kartal Hotel is a 12-story building with a total of 161 rooms. At the time of the fire, there were 238 guests present, including many children and parents due to school holidays.
The hotel’s exterior was made of wood, which caused the fire to spread rapidly. Mevlut Ozer, an eyewitness, told Reuters, “It was nothing short of a disaster. Within just half an hour, the fire engulfed the entire hotel.”
Another eyewitness, Omer Sakrak, said, “In panic, many people jumped out of the hotel windows. I personally saw someone jump from the 11th floor. I don’t know if they survived.”
In a social media post, Ali Yerlikaya expressed, “The grief we are experiencing from this horrific fire and the loss of so many lives is indescribable.”
In a separate statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “I am deeply saddened. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. I have directed the hospital authorities to provide the best possible treatment to the injured. I have already ordered an investigation into this incident.”