Tragic Fire at Turkey Ski Resort Claims 76 Lives: Minister Expresses Heartbreak

Turkey (The Uttam Hindu): A massive fire engulfed the 12-story Grand Kartal hotel in Kartalkaya, a ski resort in northwestern Turkey early Tuesday, claiming at least 76 lives and leaving 51 injured. The fire, which broke out during a school holiday when the hotel was fully booked forced some guests to jump from the building to escape. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that 45 victims had been identified, while efforts to identify others continued. He assured that those responsible for the tragedy would face justice, as investigations revealed the fire likely started in the hotel’s restaurant area and nine individuals, including the hotel owner have been detained.

Witnesses described chaos during the fire with guests using bedsheets to climb down from upper floors. The hotel’s wooden chalet-style design and its location on a slope made firefighting efforts challenging. The fire alarm system reportedly failed to function delaying evacuation efforts. Guests also criticized the late arrival of firefighting teams, which took nearly an hour to reach the site. Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that prior inspections of the hotel had found no issues related to fire safety.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a day of national mourning and pledged a thorough investigation to hold those accountable. As a precaution, nearby hotels were evacuated and guests were relocated. In a separate incident, a gas explosion at another ski resort in Sivas province injured four people including two skiers and their instructors, highlighting additional safety concerns in Turkey’s popular winter destinations.