Tragedy Strikes Ski Resort: 66 Dead in Hotel Fire in Northwestern Turkey
A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal hotel, located in the picturesque Kartalkaya ski resort of northwestern Turkey, has claimed the lives of at least 66 individuals, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The tragic incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, also left at least 51 people injured, with some in critical condition.
Minister Yerlikaya expressed the nation’s sorrow, stating, "We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel." Emergency services were swiftly deployed to the scene, and an investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched.
The fire began around 3:30 AM in the hotel’s restaurant, situated within the 12-story structure. Eyewitness accounts revealed that some guests jumped from their rooms in a desperate attempt to escape, while others attempted to climb down using makeshift ropes created from sheets and blankets. Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, recounted his harrowing experience of awakening to the chaos and helping approximately 20 guests evacuate.
"The hotel was engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for guests to locate the fire escape," Kepcetutan said. Frighteningly, guests reported that the hotel's fire detection system failed to activate. One guest, Atakan Yelkovan, expressed his disbelief and concern, saying, "My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off. We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t. There were flames."
Television reports depicted a scene of destruction, with images showing blackened walls, shattered glass, and the remnants of a grand chandelier that once illuminated the hotel lobby.
In response to the tragic event, authorities have assigned six prosecutors to investigate the fire’s origins, with preliminary suggestions indicating that the wooden cladding used in the hotel’s design may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. The hotel, with 161 rooms, is perched on the edge of a cliff, complicating firefighting efforts.
As part of safety measures, other hotels in the region were evacuated, and guests were relocated to nearby accommodations. The fire outbreak coincided with the school semester break, a peak time for the popular ski destination which is located approximately 300 kilometers east of Istanbul.
In a separate unfortunate occurrence, a gas explosion at another ski facility in central Turkey, the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center in Sivas province, injured four individuals, including two skiers and their instructor. This alarming trend of incidents in ski resorts has raised concerns about safety protocols in the region.
As the investigation unfolds and those affected begin to process their loss, the community mourns the lives lost in this tragic event, which has sent shockwaves through Turkey and beyond.
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