Tragic Fire at Turkish Ski Resort Hotel Claims at Least 76 Lives”

At least 76 people have lost their lives in a devastating fire at a ski resort hotel in Turkey, with rescue operations ongoing as authorities investigate the cause.

Early Tuesday, during a school holiday at a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkey, a fire swept through a 12-story hotel. The blaze resulted in the deaths of at least 76 people, with officials reporting that at least two individuals died after jumping from the building to escape the flames.

According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, a fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, located in Bolu province’s Koroglu mountains about 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Istanbul, injured at least 51 people. The incident happened near the beginning of a two-week winter school break when hotels in the area are usually crowded.

“Our hearts are shattered, and we are grieving,” Yerlikaya stated to reporters outside the hotel. “However, rest assured that those responsible for this pain will not evade justice.”

Atakan Yelkovan, a guest residing on the third floor of the hotel, informed IHA news agency about the turmoil occurring on the upper floors as fellow guests attempted to flee. Some even resorted to using sheets and blankets to climb down from their rooms.

“The people on the upper floors were yelling in distress. They dangled sheets from windows, and some even attempted to jump,” Yelkovan recounted.

Yerlikaya stated that 45 out of the 76 individuals who were killed have been identified, and efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining victims.

“Forty-five bodies have been returned to their families, but the others could not be identified immediately,” Yerlikaya stated. He added that emergency response teams would conduct a final search for victims on Wednesday.

Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu reported that while 17 individuals received treatment and were subsequently released, at least one of the injured remains in serious condition.

Yerlikaya stated that the hotel had 238 registered guests. He informed reporters that the fire was reported at 3:27 a.m., and the fire department began responding at 4:15 a.m.