Turkish Ski Resort Fire Claims At Least 76 Lives

A devastating fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the popular ski resort of Kartalkaya early Tuesday morning, claiming at least 76 lives and injuring 51 others. The fire, which started around 3:30 a.m. in the hotel's restaurant, quickly spread to the upper floors, trapping many guests inside.

According to Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the fire detection system failed to activate, leaving guests unaware of the danger until it was too late. Some guests resorted to using sheets and blankets to climb down from their rooms, while others tragically jumped from windows in a panic.

A ski instructor at the hotel, Necmi Kepcetutan, said, “I was asleep when the fire erupted, and I rushed out of the building. I then helped some 20 guests out of the hotel.” He noted that the hotel was filled with smoke, making it challenging for guests to locate the fire escape.

Another guest, Atakan Yelkovan, revealed that the hotel’s fire detection system failed to activate. “My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off,”

Firefighters faced significant challenges due to the hotel's location on the side of a cliff and freezing weather conditions, which delayed their arrival. Despite the efforts of 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances, the fire caused extensive damage to the 12-storey hotel, which was hosting 234 guests at the time.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with a team of six government-appointed prosecutors leading the inquiry. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to take all necessary steps to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable.

Authorities have detained four individuals, including the hotel's owner, as they investigate the cause of the fire. Initial reports suggest the blaze may have been fueled by flammable materials used in the hotel's exterior cladding.

The resort has been evacuated as a precaution, and guests have been relocated to nearby hotels