The death toll from a fire that engulfed a hotel at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey rose to 66, the interior minister reported on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic as guests desperately attempted to escape, with some using ropes or tying bedsheets to climb down from windows. Media reports suggest that several victims died while attempting to jump to safety.
The fire broke out at the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya resort, approximately 170 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Ankara, at 3:27 a.m. (0027 GMT). The wooden-clad hotel was at full capacity, housing 238 guests during the peak holiday season.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, addressing reporters at the scene, confirmed, “We are deeply pained. The tragedy has claimed the lives of 66 people, while 51 others are injured.” He also noted that the fire had been contained.
Reports from private broadcaster NTV revealed that three of the fatalities involved individuals who jumped from windows to escape the flames.
The fire is believed to have originated in the hotel’s restaurant before spreading rapidly, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Part of the building’s location on a cliff made firefighting efforts challenging.
Witness Accounts and Government Response
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed profound grief, cutting short his address at the AKP party congress in Ankara. “Our pain is immense, and our sorrow is deep,” he said, pledging thorough administrative and judicial investigations to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable.
Television footage captured the hotel engulfed in smoke, with snow-covered mountains forming a backdrop. Survivor accounts detailed the harrowing moments as the fire spread. “I heard people screaming for help around midnight,” said Baris Salgur, an employee of a nearby hotel. “We tried to help by bringing ropes, blankets, and pillows, but some jumped as the flames closed in.”
A survivor criticized the hotel’s lack of safety precautions, citing the absence of alarms, smoke detectors, or adequate fire escapes. However, Tourism Minister Nuri Ersoy stated that the hotel was equipped with two fire exits.
Footage showed charred remnants of the hotel’s lobby and sheets hanging from windows, indicating that guests had used them to escape. Authorities cautioned that the building was at risk of collapsing.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed that six prosecutors had been assigned to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, those evacuated were accommodated in nearby hotels.
International Condolences
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy in a social media post. “Deeply saddened to learn of the fire at Kartalkaya ski resort in northern Turkey,” he wrote, extending condolences to President Erdogan, the Turkish people, and the bereaved families. He also prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the disaster.
