In brief
A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu has left ten dead and injured 32 others during peak holiday season
The article text:A catastrophic fire engulfed the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Turkish ski resort of Bolu early in the morning, resulting in ten confirmed deaths and injuring at least 32 individuals, as confirmed by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Eyewitness accounts suggest that at least two victims perished after attempting to escape by jumping from windows. The terrifying incident began at approximately 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) in a hotel that was fully booked with 234 guests during a busy holiday period.Footage has emerged showing bed linens hanging from windows, utilized by guests hoping to escape the rapidly spreading flames. According to Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin, initial investigations indicate that the fire originated in the restaurant area located on the fourth floor, subsequently sweeping up to the higher levels of the building. Authorities are looking into reports of guests who may have been trapped inside their rooms as the fire progressed.The governor noted that the hotel's isolated location in Kartalkaya, compounded by harsh winter conditions, significantly delayed the arrival of fire services, with emergency responders taking over an hour to reach the scene. Rescue operations continued throughout the morning, with 267 emergency personnel deployed to manage the situation, although local mayor shared that efforts to access all areas of the hotel were ongoing.Situated around 170 km (105 miles) from Ankara, the Bolu mountains attract numerous skiers from major cities like Istanbul and the capital itself, with this particular hotel operating at maximum capacity during the two-week school holiday. In light of the fire, a nearby hotel was evacuated as a precautionary measure.Survivor accounts reveal the terror faced by guests, with ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan stating, "People were shouting at the windows, 'Save us,' because there was intense smoke inside." He managed to rescue 20-25 individuals thanks to his familiarity with the hotel layout. The precise cause of the fire remains under investigation, and Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has assigned prosecutors to pursue inquiries into the incident.
