A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey’s Bolu mountains claimed 66 lives and left 51 injured as panicked guests tried to escape. The tragedy unfolded early Tuesday morning in the popular ski resort of Kartalkaya, leaving a community in shock. The incident has drawn attention to fire safety protocols, making “hotel fire safety” a critical issue in the aftermath.
Deadly Fire Engulfs Grand Kartal Hotel
The fire began around 3:30 a.m. in the hotel restaurant and quickly spread through the 12-story building. Guests attempted to escape by jumping out of windows or tying bed sheets together to climb down. Tragically, two individuals died in their desperate attempt to jump to safety.
Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, confirmed the death toll and expressed his condolences, stating, “We are in deep pain.” Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin revealed that 238 guests were staying at the hotel at the time of the fire, which left the building’s wooden façade charred and smoke billowing from its windows.
Witness Accounts Highlight Chaos
Survivors described harrowing scenes of panic. Mevlut Ozer, a witness, said, “It was like the apocalypse. The flames engulfed the hotel in half an hour.” Another witness, Omer Sakrak, shared a tragic account: “One friend jumped from the 11th floor – may God have mercy on him. Others tried to climb down using bed sheets, but they ripped, and people fell.”
Some guests reported that no alarms went off during the fire. Atakan Yelkovan, a third-floor guest, said, “My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off. We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t due to the flames. We rushed outside.”
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Emergency Response and Investigation
The firefighting operation lasted 10 hours, involving multiple fire engines and ambulances. Authorities detained four individuals, including the hotel owner, as part of an investigation. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunç stated efforts are underway to determine the fire’s cause and hold those responsible accountable.
Guests from neighboring hotels were evacuated as a precaution, and accommodations were arranged for them in nearby Bolu. Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy revealed that the Grand Kartal Hotel had passed a fire safety inspection last year.
A Community in Mourning
The tragedy occurred during Turkey’s school holiday season when ski resorts are typically crowded. The resort, located 185 miles east of Istanbul, is a popular destination in the Köroğlu mountains.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pledged that “every step is being taken” to uncover the cause and ensure justice. In a separate incident, a gas explosion at a ski resort in Sivas province injured four people, further intensifying concerns over safety measures in tourism hotspots.
The Need for Better Safety Standards
As authorities investigate, the incident has brought renewed focus to fire safety protocols in hotels and public spaces. The disaster serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures to protect lives during peak tourism seasons.
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