76 Killed, 51 Injured in Fire at Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu's Kartalkaya Ski Resort

Jan 21, 2025, 04:15 PM

A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort, located in northwestern Turkey's Bolu province, has resulted in the deaths of at least 76 people and injured 51 others. The fire broke out at approximately 3:27 a.m. local time in the hotel's restaurant area and rapidly spread throughout the 12-story building. The incident occurred during a peak tourism period due to a two-week school holiday, with 238 guests registered at the hotel. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that the fire was brought under control after a significant effort by emergency services, and cooling operations were ongoing. The government has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, with nine individuals, including the hotel's owner, detained as part of the probe. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a day of national mourning on Wednesday, with flags to be flown at half-staff across the country and at Turkish diplomatic missions abroad.