Massive Fire At Turkey Ski Resort Results In 66 Deaths, Guests Seen Jumping Out Of Windows

A catastrophic fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey's Bolu mountains resulted in 66 fatalities on Tuesday, with many panicked guests leaping from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the flames, according to Reuters.

The fire broke out at the Kartalkaya ski resort, a popular destination in northwestern Turkey, where 234 guests were staying at the time.

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The blaze started around 3:30 am on the restaurant floor of the 12-storey hotel and rapidly spread throughout the building. Witnesses recounted scenes of chaos as smoke filled the air, with the hotel's fire detection system reportedly failing to activate.

Guests resorted to makeshift ropes made from tied bedsheets to climb down from upper floors, while others jumped from windows to escape the inferno. According to Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin, two victims died from injuries sustained in the falls.

Television footage showed the hotel's roof and upper floors consumed by flames, with the charred wooden cladding and a blackened lobby littered with shattered glass and burned furniture.

Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan, who managed to escape the fire, said he helped around 20 guests evacuate, though the thick smoke made it almost impossible for many to locate the fire exits.

Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu confirmed that 51 people were injured, with one in critical condition. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya expressed his sorrow over the loss of life, describing it as a moment of deep pain for the nation.

Guests reported significant delays in the arrival of firefighting teams, with some claiming it took almost an hour for help to arrive.

"People on the upper floors were screaming," said Atakan Yelkovan, a guest staying on the third floor, to the Associated Press. "The alarm didn't go off. My wife smelled the burning, and we barely managed to get out."

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, appointing six prosecutors to lead the inquiry. Reports suggest that the chalet-style wooden cladding on the hotel's exterior may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, making the fire more difficult to control. Efforts to fight the blaze were further hindered by the hotel's location on the side of a cliff.

The tragedy occurred during Turkey's school semester break, a peak travel period when the region's hotels are fully booked. Other hotels in the resort were evacuated as a precaution, and guests were relocated to nearby Bolu.

On the same day, a gas explosion at the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Centre in Sivas province, central Turkey, injured four people. While unrelated, both incidents highlight safety concerns at such resorts.