Rabat – A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, a popular ski resort in Kartalkaya, Turkiye, has claimed the lives of 76 people and left dozens injured. Authorities have detained nine individuals, including the hotel owner, as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.
The fire broke out early Tuesday morning at about 3 a.m. in the Koroglu Mountains of Bolu province, located 300 kilometers east of Istanbul. According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, emergency teams arrived an hour later.
“Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning … But you should know that whoever is responsible for causing this pain will not escape justice,” Yerlikaya said.
Many survivors have expressed outrage over the hotel’s safety measures. Guests reported that no fire alarms sounded, leaving them to navigate smoke-filled corridors in darkness. Some were forced to jump from windows to escape the flames, leading to at least two deaths, officials said.
The majority of guests were asleep when the fire began, with survivors saying that heavy smoke made it difficult for them to locate fire exists.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a day of national mourning in honor of the victims. Flags at government buildings and Turkish embassies worldwide have been lowered to half-mast.
Erdogan vowed to hold those responsible accountable, saying, “All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident.”
Authorities have assigned six prosecutors to investigate the fire. Authorities are conducting DNA tests to identify the remaining victims. Of the 238 guests in the hotel at the time, many are still unaccounted for.
The hotel released a statement expressing its sorrow and commitment to cooperating with authorities. “We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts,” it said.
