Deadly Fire at Ski Resort Hotel in Turkey Kills 10, Injures 32

Devastating fire at the hotel in Turkey's Kartalkaya ski resort kills 10, wounds 32. The fire had started overnight in the resort's restaurant, killing 10 people and injuring 32. Out of 234 guests staying at the hotel, many were forced to jump or climb to escape, as the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

By Tripti Singh Jan 21, 2025, 13:01 IST

At least 10 people have died and 32 were hospitalized after a deadly fire broke out at a hotel in the popular northwestern Turkish ski resort of Kartalkaya on Tuesday, officials said. The blaze, which was reported to have been sparked overnight in the restaurant of the hotel, started in the Bolu province.

Panic and Efforts to Escape Amid Scorching of Hotel

Flames were spreading fast when panic broke among guests. Two tragically died while jumping from the building in order to escape. Governor Abdulaziz Aydin has confirmed casualties while private TV channels report that several guests tried climbing down using bed sheets.

Fire Spreads Rapidly, Evacuations Ongoing

Television footage had shown the entire roof and upper floors of the hotel engulfed in flames. As of now, the cause for the fire cannot be determined. However, some people speculated that the wooden cladding on the exterior of the hotel might have fueled the quick spread of the fire.

The resort is based in the mountains of Koroglu, the most popular ski resort and currently crowded due to the school semester break. Therefore, the inferno forced the evacuation of other nearby hotels as preventive measures.

Emergency Response towards the Disaster

There have been reports that 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances were mobilized to the scene to assist in rescue efforts. Authorities are investigating the cause of the devastating fire as the regional tourism sector, as well as the local community, are shaken by the tragedy.
The disaster raises questions about fire safety in ski resorts particularly during peak tourist seasons.