The death toll from a fire that consumed a hotel at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday has risen to 66, according to the interior minister.
Eyewitnesses reported that frantic guests attempted to escape using ropes, with footage capturing bedsheets hanging from the windows. Media sources indicate that some individuals perished while attempting to leap to safety.
Several government officials have arrived at the scene of the incident at the Kartalkaya resort, located approximately 170 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Ankara, and authorities have confirmed that the fire has now been brought under control.
“Our sorrow is immense,” stated Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya during a press briefing at Kartalkaya. “We have lost 66 citizens, and 51 others have sustained injuries.”
Turkish officials have apprehended four individuals, including the hotel owner, in connection with the incident.
“Four individuals, including the hotel owner, have been detained as part of an investigation conducted by six prosecutors,” announced Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc on X.
The fire erupted at 3:27 a.m. (0027 GMT) in the 12-story Grand Kartal hotel, which features wooden cladding, as reported by the minister.
The hotel had approximately 238 guests registered at the time, coinciding with a peak period during a two-week school holiday.
Private broadcaster NTV reported that among the deceased were three individuals who had jumped from the hotel’s windows.
The fire is thought to have originated in the restaurant and spread rapidly, although the exact cause remains unclear.
A portion of the building is situated against a cliff, complicating efforts for firefighters to combat the flames.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan abruptly concluded his speech at the AKP party congress in Ankara, expressing, “Our pain is immense, our sorrow is profound.”
He announced that both administrative and judicial inquiries have commenced to determine the cause of the fire.
“All necessary measures will be implemented to clarify every aspect of the incident and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” he assured.
Television footage depicted large clouds of smoke billowing into the sky, with a snow-capped mountain visible behind the hotel.
“I heard screams around midnight; residents of the hotel were calling for assistance,” Baris Salgur, an employee at a nearby hotel, recounted to NTV television.
“They requested blankets, stating they would jump. We did what we could; we provided ropes, pillows, and even a sofa. Some individuals leaped as the flames drew near.”
‘No safety’
Footage displayed the devastated lobby of the hotel, littered with shards of glass, while the reception area and wooden furnishings were charred black.
Authorities cautioned that the structure might collapse.
A survivor who escaped the inferno reported to local media that no alarms activated when the fire broke out, lamenting the absence of safety features such as fire escapes or smoke detectors.
Tourism Minister Nuri Ersoy stated that the hotel was equipped with two fire exits.
Images showed hotel sheets dangling from the windows, indicating that some guests had tied them together to facilitate their escape from the fire.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that six prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the incident.
Those who were evacuated have been relocated to nearby hotels.
