Official announcements from the Turkish government or relevant legislative bodies

66 Dead, 51 Injured in Grand Kartal Hotel Fire at Turkey's Kartalkaya Ski Resort

Jan 21, 2025, 12:47 PM

A fire engulfed the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu, northwestern Turkey, early Tuesday around 3:30 a.m., resulting in at least 66 deaths and 51 injuries, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The blaze started in the hotel's restaurant on the fourth floor and rapidly spread throughout the building, possibly due to wooden exterior walls and a failed fire detection system. The hotel was occupied by 237 guests at the time, many of whom were enjoying the winter school holidays. Some panicked guests were forced to jump from windows to escape the flames, with two people dying after leaping from the building. Firefighters battled the blaze for over ten hours before bringing it under control. Authorities have detained four individuals, including the hotel owner, amid an ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire and potential negligence in fire safety measures.