Istanbul: A catastrophic fire engulfed a hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 76 people and injuries to 51 others. Many guests, in a desperate attempt to escape the flames and smoke, jumped from windows, according to reports.
Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, confirmed the rising death toll and stated that several of the victims were children. Authorities have so far identified 52 of the deceased. As news of the tragedy spread, local schools and businesses shared condolence messages for lost students and staff, including multiple fifth-grade children aged 10 to 11 years old.
Following the incident, Minister Yerlikaya expressed deep sorrow, stating, “We are in immense grief. The fire has claimed 76 lives.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared a national day of mourning on Wednesday, urging unity and emphasizing that those responsible for the disaster would be held accountable.
Eyewitnesses reported that some guests jumped from the upper floors as flames rapidly spread through the 12-story hotel. Video footage from the scene showed thick gray smoke billowing from the burned structure. Due to the hotel’s location on a cliffside, emergency response efforts were severely challenged.
Emergency services received reports of the fire at 3:27 AM local time, with firefighters arriving at the scene by 4:15 AM. Despite rapid mobilization, the blaze had already caused extensive devastation.
Officials confirmed that around 234 guests were staying at the hotel at the time of the fire. Two victims lost their lives after jumping in panic. A total of 267 emergency personnel, along with 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances, were deployed to contain the situation and assist survivors.
As a precaution, authorities evacuated other hotels in the ski resort and relocated guests to accommodations in the nearby city of Bolu. Meanwhile, the Turkish government has launched an official investigation, with at least nine individuals detained in connection with the fire. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunç assured that those found responsible would face strict legal action.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across Turkey, with an outpouring of condolences and calls for stringent fire safety measures in hospitality establishments.
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