- A fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu, Turkey, claimed 66 lives and injured The fire started in the hotel’s restaurant and spread rapidly, possibly trapping guests in their rooms.
- The cause of the fire is under investigation, with prosecutors assigned to the case.
- The incident underscores the importance of stringent safety measures and regular inspections in hotels.
In a devastating incident that has left Turkey in a state of shock, a fire broke out in the Grand Kartal Hotel, a popular ski resort in Bolu. The blaze claimed the lives of 66 people and left at least 51 others injured. The fire ignited at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) during a busy holiday period. At the time, the hotel was accommodating 234 guests. The initial death toll of 10 rose significantly in the hours following the fire, according to Turkey’s interior ministry.
Fire Origin and Spread
Reports suggest that the fire started in the restaurant section of the hotel’s fourth floor and rapidly spread to the floors above. The hotel management is currently investigating whether guests were trapped in their rooms as the fire spread. The distance between the hotel, located in Kartalkaya, and the center of Bolu, coupled with freezing weather conditions, resulted in a delay of over an hour for fire engines to arrive at the scene.
Rescue efforts continued throughout the morning, with the interior minister stating that emergency services had deployed 267 personnel to respond to the fire. By mid-morning, local authorities were still trying to reach parts of the hotel. The Bolu mountains, where the hotel is located, are a popular destination for skiers from Istanbul and the capital, Ankara. The hotel was operating at high occupancy at the start of the two-week school holidays.
Aftermath and Investigation
The fire was confined to the Grand Kartal Hotel, but as a precautionary measure, a neighboring hotel was also evacuated. Images from the scene showed bedsheets hanging from the windows of the hotel’s upper floors, a desperate measure taken by those trying to escape the burning building.
Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan, who managed to escape the fire, recounted the harrowing scene to Turkish TV. He said that people were shouting from the windows for help due to the intense smoke inside. He and others managed to pull out 20-25 people. The circumstances that led to the fire are still unclear, and prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the blaze.
Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu reported that at least one of the injured was in serious condition, while 17 others had been discharged after receiving treatment. Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy assured that the hotel had undergone inspections in 2021 and 2024, and no negative situation regarding fire competence was reported by the fire department. He added that all necessary steps would be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
This tragic incident brings to mind the historical event of the MGM Grand Hotel fire in Las Vegas in 1980, which claimed 85 lives and injured more than 600 people. The fire, which started in a restaurant, spread through the casino floor, trapping many guests in their rooms. The incident led to significant changes in safety standards and regulations in hotels across the United States.
As Turkey grapples with this tragedy, it is hoped that similar measures will be taken to ensure the safety of guests in hotels and resorts. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures and the need for regular inspections to prevent such disasters in the future.