A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, located at the popular Kartalkaya ski resort in northwestern Turkey, has claimed at least 66 lives and left 51 others injured. The blaze erupted early on January 21, 2025, at approximately 3:30 AM local time, engulfing the 12-storey hotel as guests were asleep, creating chaos and panic.
According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the fire, which originated on the restaurant floor, spread rapidly through the wooden-clad structure, complicate firefighting efforts. "We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire at this hotel," he expressed at the scene, visibly shaken by the tragedy.
The hotel was at near full capacity with approximately 234 guests at the time, due to the school holiday season, as families flocked to the snowy mountains for winter sports. Eyewitness accounts reveal the harrowing plight of guests; some made the desperate choice to jump from windows as flames consumed the floors above them. Several hotel guests were spotted attempting to escape using makeshift ropes fashioned from bed sheets and blankets. Local reports indicate three individuals died after jumping from the building.
Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan recounted the horror, saying, "I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK." He rushed to aid about 20 guests, but darkness and smoke hindered visibility and accessibility, complicate their escape.
Firefighters faced formidable challenges due to the hotel's structure, partly built against a cliff. The governor of Bolu, Abdulaziz Aydin, indicated it took more than an hour for emergency teams to arrive due to its remote location. "The alarm did not go off," said guest Atakan Yelkovan, which raised significant concerns about the hotel's fire detection systems. "We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t; there were flames. We went downstairs and made it outside.”
The fire was finally extinguished after 12 hours of relentless battling, but the toll was severe. Authorities reported 66 confirmed deaths, with initial reports indicating ten casualties before the number rose significantly. The situation prompted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to assure the public, "All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable."
Investigations are underway, with local officials questioning whether the hotel's wooden design and lack of effective emergency protocols played roles in the swift spread of flames. Six prosecutors have been assigned to look closely at how the fire broke out and spread, as well as the operational safety protocols of the hotel. Turkish Minister of Tourism had earlier stated there had been no prior concerns about the fire safety measures at the Grand Kartal Hotel.
With the ski resort being popular with those from Istanbul and Ankara, this tragedy strikes at the heart of the community and raises broader questions about building regulations and safety standards at hotels across Turkey. Transporting injured individuals to hospitals proved also challenging, with multiple ambulances dispatched and surrounding hotels evacuated for safety precautions.
The community mourns the lives lost in this heartbreaking tragedy, as families await news about their loved ones who were caught up in the fire. Local authorities have promised support for the families of the victims, as the nation grapples with the scale of this disaster. Officials continue to stress the need for thorough investigations to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
The echoes of the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel serve as somber reminders of the necessity for stringent safety measures and building standards, especially for hotels situated within popular but precarious locations like ski resorts. The ramifications of this event will likely resonate far longer than the flames themselves, searing memories of loss within the hearts of many.