A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu, Turkey, has resulted in 10 fatalities and 32 injuries, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. Reports indicate that two victims died after jumping from windows to escape the blaze.
The fire began at 3:27 AM local time in the hotel’s fourth-floor restaurant area before spreading through the 12-story building. At the time, 234 guests stayed at the property during a busy school holiday.
Emergency response faced significant challenges, with fire engines taking over an hour to reach the scene due to the hotel’s remote location in Kartalkaya and freezing weather conditions, according to Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin. Witnesses observed guests using bed linens to attempt escape from windows.
A ski instructor, Necmi Kepcetutan, told NTV that his familiarity with the building helped him escape, while others struggled with the intense smoke. “We pulled 20-25 people out,” he reported, noting that trapped guests were calling for help from windows.
Emergency services deployed 267 personnel to combat the fire. By mid-morning, rescue teams were still working to access certain areas of the hotel. As a precautionary measure, authorities evacuated a neighboring hotel.
The Bolu mountains, situated approximately 170km from Ankara, are a popular skiing destination for visitors from Istanbul and the capital. Prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the cause of the fire.
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