A devastating fire engulfed the Grand Kartal hotel in Turkey’s Bolu mountains early Tuesday, killing 66 people and injuring 51. Guests were forced to jump from windows or attempt to escape using bed sheets as flames spread through the 12-story building, which was packed with tourists enjoying the winter holiday season.
Early morning disaster strikes
The fire broke out at approximately 3:30 a.m. in the restaurant area of the Grand Kartal hotel, located in the popular ski resort of Kartalkaya in Bolu province. With 238 guests staying in the hotel’s 161 rooms, the building was at near full capacity during the school holiday period. Witnesses described the scene as apocalyptic, with flames spreading rapidly and creating panic among those trapped inside.
“It was like the apocalypse,” said Mevlut Ozer, who witnessed the fire. “The flames engulfed the hotel immediately, like in half an hour.” Television footage showed the roof and top floors ablaze, with white bed sheets tied together hanging from several upper-story windows where guests had attempted to climb down.
Harrowing attempts to escape
In the chaos, some guests jumped from upper floors in a desperate attempt to flee. Two of the victims died from injuries sustained in their fall, according to Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin. Others tried to descend using improvised ropes made from bed sheets, but these often ripped under their weight.
“One friend jumped from the 11th floor—may God have mercy on him,” said Omer Sakrak, an employee of a neighboring hotel. He recounted seeing a father shouting about his one-year-old child, threatening to throw the baby down to safety to avoid the flames.
Inside the hotel, guests described smoke-filled corridors with no functioning fire alarms. Atakan Yelkovan, a guest staying on the third floor, said his wife smelled smoke before they realized what was happening. “The alarm did not go off,” he told Turkish media. “We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t, there were flames. We went downstairs and came outside.”
Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, was asleep when the fire began. He rushed outside to safety but returned to help approximately 20 guests escape from the burning building.
Rescue efforts and investigations
Firefighters and emergency services responded quickly, with the firefighting operation lasting nearly 10 hours. Ambulances surrounded the scene to transport injured victims to nearby hospitals. Health Minister Kemal Memi?o?lu reported that 17 of the 51 injured had been discharged, but at least one person remained in critical condition.
Authorities have detained four individuals, including the hotel’s owner, as part of an investigation into the fire. Turkey’s Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunç announced that the probe will focus on the hotel’s safety measures and compliance with regulations. Despite passing a fire safety inspection last year, the Grand Kartal hotel’s response to the emergency has raised questions.
Reactions and next steps
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an expressed his condolences and pledged to hold those responsible fully accountable. “Every step is being taken to find out the cause of the fire and to identify those responsible,” he stated. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya visited the site and shared his sorrow over the tragedy, describing it as “a deep pain for our nation.”
Other hotels in the area were evacuated as a precaution, and guests were relocated to accommodations in nearby Bolu. Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy confirmed that all nearby ski resorts had been inspected to ensure safety for remaining visitors.
A grim day for Turkey’s ski resorts
Adding to the tragedy, a gas explosion occurred at another ski resort in central Turkey on the same day. The explosion at Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center in Sivas province injured four people, including two skiers and their instructor, one of whom suffered second-degree burns. Authorities are investigating the incident, which further highlights safety concerns at winter tourism destinations.
The fire at the Grand Kartal hotel has cast a shadow over Turkey’s ski industry, known for attracting both domestic and international tourists. As the investigation unfolds, authorities will face pressure to ensure stricter safety measures at resorts to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
