ANKARA, Turkey — A tragic incident unfolded at a ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey early Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals and leaving 32 others hospitalized, according to officials.
The fire erupted around 3:30 a.m. in the restaurant area of the Grand Kartal hotel, a 12-story establishment located in the Kartalkaya resort of Bolu province. The cause of the blaze is currently under investigation. Two of the deceased reportedly lost their lives after jumping from the building in desperation, as stated by Governor Abdulaziz Aydin during comments to state-run Anadolu Agency. Additionally, some guests attempted to escape by lowering themselves from their rooms using sheets and blankets, as noted by private broadcaster NTV.
At the time of the incident, the hotel was accommodating 234 guests, according to Aydin. One ski instructor, Necmi Kepcetutan, revealed he was asleep when the fire broke out and quickly evacuated the building. He managed to assist about 20 other guests in their escape, sharing that thick smoke hindered the guests’ ability to find the fire exits. “I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,” Kepcetutan expressed on NTV, indicating his concern for those he could not locate.
Television footage captured the blaze engulfing the top floors and roof of the hotel. In response to the disaster, the government has appointed six prosecutors to investigate the incident. Reports from NTV suggest that the hotel’s wooden exterior cladding, designed in a chalet style, may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. The 161-room hotel, situated against a cliffside, also posed challenges for firefighting efforts, as noted by the station.
Images aired on television showed a lobby filled with smoke, shattered glass at the entrance, a scorched wooden reception desk, and a chandelier that had fallen to the floor. Kartalkaya, located about 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Istanbul, is a favored ski destination, particularly crowded during school vacation periods.
In total, 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances were deployed to the scene, according to Aydin’s office. As a precautionary measure, nearby hotels were evacuated, and guests were relocated to other accommodations within the Bolu region.
In a separate incident at a ski resort in central Turkey, a natural gas explosion at the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center left four individuals injured. The blast occurred in Sivas province, with two alpine skiers and their instructor suffering minor injuries, while another instructor sustained second-degree burns on their hands and face, as reported by the Sivas governor’s office.
