A drone captures the devastating aftermath of a hotel fire at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu, Turkey, on January 21, 2025. Reuters
In a tragic turn of events, a fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey's Bolu mountains early Tuesday morning, killing 76 people and leaving dozens injured. The fire forced many guests to leap from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the blaze.
“It was like the apocalypse. The flames engulfed the hotel immediately, like in half an hour,” recounted Mevlut Ozer, a witness to the horrifying incident at the Kartalkaya ski resort.
The blaze started around 3:30 a.m. on the restaurant floor of the 12-story hotel, according to officials. By the time rescue teams arrived, the wooden-fronted building was already charred. Firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene, while makeshift escape ropes made of bed sheets could be seen hanging from several windows.
Omer Sakrak, an employee at a nearby hotel, described the chaotic scene: “People all started to jump with panic. One friend jumped from the 11th floor – may God have mercy on him.” He also recounted a heartbreaking moment when a father, trapped with his one-year-old child, shouted in desperation: “I will throw my child or he will burn.”
Survivors revealed that no alarms went off as they fled through smoke-filled hallways, making the escape even more perilous.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday a national day of mourning to honor the victims. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya expressed the nation’s grief, stating, “Our pain is impossible to describe.”
The hotel had been hosting 238 guests, many of them families on holiday from nearby Istanbul and Ankara. DNA tests are being conducted to identify some of the victims, and authorities confirmed that search operations at the site have been completed.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. Nine individuals have been detained as part of the inquiry, with prosecutors determined to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.
As the news of this devastating event spread, the nation has been left grappling with the immense loss of life. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of safety protocols and emergency preparedness, especially in high-occupancy buildings.
