A deadly fire broke out at a ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday, claiming the lives of at least 66 people and injuring 51 others. The fire occurred early in the morning at a hotel in the Kartalkaya resort in Bolu province. Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the death toll, expressing deep sorrow for the tragic loss.
The blaze was so intense that some holidaymakers were forced to jump from windows to escape the flames and smoke. The fire rapidly spread to the upper floors of the 12-story hotel, which was built against a rock face, making it harder for firefighting teams to control. Eyewitnesses described the horrific scene, with guests screaming and some desperately leaping from windows.
“It was so bad. Everybody was jumping out of the windows in fear of death. People were ashamed as there were no fire extinguishers around,” said one witness. Many also expressed frustration over delays in the arrival of ambulances and fire trucks.
The fire occurred during the winter school holidays, a popular time for tourists visiting the Bolu mountains to ski. There were about 234 people staying at the hotel at the time of the fire. Two victims died after jumping out of the building in panic.
In response, over 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances were deployed to the scene, with 267 emergency personnel working to control the situation. Other hotels in the resort were evacuated as a precaution, and guests were relocated to nearby hotels. Some videos shared on social media showed flames engulfing the top floors of the building, with people using tied bed sheets in attempts to escape.
