Deadly Hotel Fire in Turkey Claims 76 Lives, Investigation Underway

TRTurkey|

A tragic fire at the Grand Kartal hotel in Kartalkaya, Turkey, has resulted in at least 76 fatalities and injured 51 others. The blaze erupted around 3:30 AM local time in the hotel's restaurant, where more than 230 guests were staying. Eyewitness reports indicate that some guests jumped from windows to escape the flames.

Four individuals, including the hotel owner, have been arrested following the incident as authorities investigate the cause of the fire. The Turkish Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, confirmed that of the injured, one is in serious condition while 17 others have since been discharged from hospitals.

Guests reported hearing no fire alarms, and firefighting teams faced challenges reaching the hotel, which is situated on a cliff. Witness Atakan Yelkovan described the chaos as guests attempted to escape, some using sheets to descend.

Emergency services dispatched 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances to the scene, and other hotels in the area were evacuated as a precaution. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to ensure a thorough investigation and accountability for the disaster. The hotel had passed a fire inspection last year, raising questions about safety standards, particularly regarding the wooden cladding that may have facilitated the fire's spread.

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