KARTALKAYA, Turkey. A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey’s Bolu mountains claimed the lives of 76 people and left dozens injured early Tuesday morning. The blaze forced panicked guests to jump from windows, as flames rapidly engulfed the 12-story hotel at the popular Kartalkaya ski resort.
Witnesses described the scene as apocalyptic. “It was like the apocalypse. The flames engulfed the hotel immediately, like in half an hour,” said Mevlut Ozer, who was at the resort during the tragedy.
The fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT) on the restaurant floor, authorities confirmed. Guests were seen attempting to escape by tying bed sheets together to climb down from upper floors. At least three windows bore evidence of this desperate measure, as sheets dangled precariously from them.
President Tayyip Erdogan declared a national day of mourning on Wednesday, expressing his condolences to the victims’ families.
Witnesses recounted the chaos and panic. Omer Sakrak, an employee at a neighboring hotel, shared the heartbreaking experience of seeing people leap from great heights. “People all started to jump with panic. One friend jumped from the 11th floor – may God have mercy on him,” he said.
Sakrak also described a father’s desperate attempt to save his child. “One father was yelling about his one-year-old child: ‘I will throw my child or he will burn.'”
Several guests reported they fled through smoke-filled corridors, but no fire alarms were heard.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the fire had affected 238 guests who were staying at the hotel during the school holidays, a peak time for families from Istanbul and Ankara to visit the Bolu mountains.
“Our pain is impossible to describe,” Yerlikaya said, offering condolences at the scene. The fire was brought under control by the afternoon, and rescue operations were concluded. Authorities are now conducting DNA tests to identify some of the victims.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. Nine individuals have been detained in connection with the incident, and prosecutors are working to determine accountability.
“We will leave no stone unturned in finding out what caused this tragedy,” Yerlikaya said. “Those responsible will be brought to justice.”
The Grand Kartal Hotel, known for its wooden façade and proximity to ski slopes, now stands as a somber reminder of the tragic loss of life and the need for stringent safety measures in public establishments.
This tragic event is a stark warning about the importance of fire safety protocols, particularly in high-occupancy establishments.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
