Tragic Hotel Fire in Turkish Ski Resort Claims Ten Lives

A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Turkish ski resort of Bolu has resulted in the deaths of ten people and injuries to 32 others, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The blaze, which broke out at approximately 03:27 local time, occurred during a busy holiday period when the hotel had 234 guests.

Initial reports indicate that the fire started in the restaurant area on the fourth floor and rapidly spread to the upper floors. Eyewitness accounts revealed that some guests, faced with intense smoke, resorted to jumping from windows to escape the flames.

Bolu governor Abdulaziz Aydin reported that efforts to combat the fire were hampered by the hotel's distance from the town center and freezing weather, which delayed the arrival of fire services by over an hour. As a precaution, nearby hotels were evacuated.

Rescue operations continued through the morning, with 267 emergency personnel mobilized to the scene. The circumstances that led to the outbreak of the fire are still under investigation, and prosecutors have been assigned to look into the incident. Local ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan described the harrowing scenes, stating that he helped rescue approximately 20 to 25 people.

The Bolu mountains are a popular destination for skiers, especially during the current two-week school holidays.