At least 66 dead in hotel fire in Bolu, Turkey

66 have died in a hotel fire at Kartalkaya Ski Resort in the central Anatolian province of Bolu. The fire has since been brought under control. According to a statement from the Turkish Interior Ministry, a further 51 individuals were injured in the event. 234 were staying in the hotel at the time of the outbreak.

66 dead in fire in Bolu, Turkey.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, and Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan were all reportedly on the scene in Bolu Tuesday (January 21).

Outbreak of the fire

The fire reportedly broke out in the early hours of the morning Tuesday, around 4:00 am in the Grand Kartal Hotel according to initial reports. The building was quickly engulfed in flames and units from surrounding fire departments, medical teams, and disaster response personnel were deployed to the area.

Statement from Bolu Mayor

Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan issued a statement Tuesday morning with early estimates on casualty numbers, although these estimates have since increased.

In his statement, Özcan mentioned that early information suggested the fire may have originated in the hotel’s restaurant section. Özcan also stated that he did not know whether the building was equipped with fire escapes and sprinklers, and said the municipality was not responsible for issuing permits for fire safety due to the fact that the resort is located some 45 kilometers from Bolu city center.

Statement from Bolu governor

Bolu governor Abdülaziz Aydın mentioned in a statement Tuesday that the fire had likely originated from a restaurant located on the fourth floor and then spread upwards. He also mentioned that fire crews from neighboring provinces had difficulties reaching the area due to icy and snowy seasonal conditions. According to the governor’s statement, most hotel guests escaped the burning building by their own means, while a few were also evacuated by AFAD, Turkey’s disaster response ministry.

Mobile phone videos of the fire taken by hotel guests circulated on social media Tuesday.

Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan announced that an investigation into the incident had been initiated, which was confirmed by Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç in a statement.

Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick

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