A devastating fire tore through the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel at the Kartalkaya Ski Resort in Turkiye’s Bolu province early Tuesday, a building nestled among snow-capped peaks. The blaze claimed the lives of at least 76 people and left 51 others injured.
The fire, which broke out at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time, quickly engulfed the hotel, sending thick smoke and large flames billowing from the windows and roof.
“Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning, “ aid Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told reporters outside the hotel. ”But you should know that whoever is responsible for causing this pain will not escape justice.”
The blaze, occurring during Turkey’s winter holiday season, saw the hotel filled with vacationers, including many families and children. Emergency responders battled the fire for over 10 hours, but the location’s cliffside positioning posed significant challenges to firefighting efforts.
At least 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances were sent to the site, and 267 emergency personnel were mobilized to respond to the blaze. Authorities evacuated other hotels at the resort as a precautionary measure.
Videos and images showed the roof and top floors of the hotel on fire. A drone footage, shared by Anadolu Agency, revealed the extensive fire damage to the ski resort.
“The smoke was so intense that we could hardly breathe,” Eylem Senturk, who was at the hotel with her family, told Anadolu news agency. She and her daughter rushed downstairs to find an exit, but the smoke was overwhelming for her husband. In desperation, he jumped from a window onto a lower rooftop, then onto a car, before finally reaching the ground.
Eyewitness Ali Atmaca described how he and others used mattresses to cushion the impact for those jumping from windows. “Despite our efforts, many lives were lost right before our eyes. It’s devastating,” Atmaca said.
Survivors reported that the hotel’s fire detection system failed to operate. “My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off,” said Yelkovan, the guest interviewed by IHA. “We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t, there were flames. We went downstairs and came here (outside),” he said.
Turkish Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that the hotel had been inspected in both 2021 and 2024 and was found to meet the required fire safety standards. He also noted that the building had two fire escapes.
The hotel expressed deep sorrow and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. “We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident,” it said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts.”
The resort is a popular winter destination, especially during the school holidays, which run from January through the first week of February. The fire struck during this peak period when families from Istanbul and Ankara typically travel to the Bolu mountains to ski. Located in the Köroğlu Mountains, Kartalkaya Ski Resort is about 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Bolu and 270 kilometers from Istanbul. As a precaution, nearby hotels were evacuated, and guests were relocated to other accommodations in Bolu.
Türkiye declares national mourning
In response to the tragedy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared a national day of mourning for Wednesday. Expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, President Erdoğan assured the public that an investigation was underway to identify those responsible. “Every necessary step is being taken and will continue to be taken to clarify the incident and hold those responsible accountable fully,” he said.
At the same time, the Turkish government is focusing on the legal proceedings, with a judicial investigation underway. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed that six prosecutors have been assigned to look into the cause of the blaze, while nine people, including the hotel’s owner, have been detained. “We will not let this tragedy go unanswered,” Interior Minister Yerlikaya vowed.
9 detained, including hotel owner, after deadly fire incident
In the wake of the devastating fire, Turkey has detained nine individuals, including the hotel’s owner, in connection with the incident. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the individuals are being questioned as part of an ongoing investigation.
The fire, which left 51 injured, has sparked national and international grief, with condolences pouring in from global leaders. First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan both expressed sorrow, extending their condolences to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, opposition leaders and the Turkish public have also rallied behind the investigation, pledging cooperation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.