Sunday, February 16
06:11 AM

Ten killed, dozens injured in hotel fire at Turkish ski resort

21 Jan 2025

Kartalkaya, Türkiye – At least 10 people have died and 32 others have been injured after a fire broke out at a hotel in a ski resort in northwestern Türkiye early on Tuesday morning. The blaze erupted in the restaurant of the 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya at 3:27 a.m. local time, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed.

At least two victims reportedly died after jumping from the building in panic, while local media described guests attempting to escape by climbing down using bedsheets and blankets. Television footage showed the roof and upper floors of the hotel engulfed in flames, with thick plumes of smoke rising against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

The hotel was nearly full, with over 230 guests checked in due to school holidays. Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan told private broadcaster NTV that he had helped around 20 people evacuate, but thick smoke made it difficult to locate fire escapes. “I cannot reach some of my students,” he said. “I hope they are OK.”

NTV reporters suggested that the hotel’s wooden chalet-style cladding may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Authorities deployed 30 fire engines and 28 ambulances to the site, but efforts to contain the flames were hampered by the hotel’s location, which backs onto a cliff.

Nearby hotels were also evacuated as a precaution, with guests relocated to alternative accommodation. Kartalkaya, a popular ski destination in the Köroğlu Mountains, lies about 300 kilometres (185 miles) east of Istanbul and 170 kilometres (100 miles) northwest of Ankara. Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç has appointed six prosecutors to lead an investigation into the cause of the fire, which remains unclear.

The health, interior, and culture ministers were expected to visit the site later on Tuesday.

© 2021 Apex Press and Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Mesdac