Updated:
A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, a ski resort in Turkey’s Bolu province, claimed more than 60 lives and injured more than 50 others early Tuesday. The fire started around 3:30 am in the hotel restaurant and quickly spread due to its chalet-style wooden covering.
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A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, a ski resort in Turkey’s Bolu province, claimed more than 60 lives and injured more than 50 others early Tuesday. The fire started around 3:30 a.m. in the hotel restaurant and spread quickly due to its chalet-style wooden cladding.
Panic gripped customers who tried to escape, with two victims tragically jumping out of windows. Some used sheets and blankets to get down from the 12-story building. The hotel was almost at capacity, welcoming 234 guests during the busy school holiday period.
Efforts to contain the flames were hampered by the hotel’s cliffside location. A massive intervention by emergency services, including 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances, managed to manage the situation. Neighboring hotels were evacuated as a precaution and displaced guests were relocated.
Authorities have appointed six prosecutors to investigate the causes of the fire. Kartalkaya, located 300 kilometers east of Istanbul, is a popular winter destination in the Koroglu Mountains.