Tragedy in Turkey: 66 Dead in a Ski Resort Hotel Fire

A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, January 21, at the Grand Kartal, a luxury hotel located in Kartalkaya, a ski resort 170 km east of Ankara. The death toll has risen to 66, with 51 injured, including one in critical condition, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. Cooling operations are ongoing, and the fire is now under control.

Rapid Spread of the Blaze

The fire ignited at 3:27 a.m. local time while 238 guests were registered at the 12-story establishment. The flames spread rapidly due to the building’s wooden cladding, destroying the upper floors and the roof, as aerial footage released by Turkish media revealed. Despite the arrival of 428 firefighters at 4:15 a.m., the hotel’s location on a cliff made rescue efforts particularly challenging.

Heartbreaking Accounts and Accusations of Negligence

Survivors described chaotic scenes and highlighted serious safety shortcomings. “No alarms sounded, no smoke detectors, no emergency staircases, even as smoke engulfed the upper floors,” lamented a tearful survivor. Witnesses reported that some guests, trapped by the flames, attempted to escape by jumping out of windows. At least three died this way.

Baris Salgur, an employee at a neighboring hotel, recounted the harrowing moments: “People were crying for help, asking for blankets to climb out. When the flames reached them, some jumped to their deaths.”

Investigation Underway and Initial Arrests

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced an investigation led by six prosecutors, supported by a committee of experts. Four people, including the hotel owner, have already been arrested.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that “every aspect of this tragedy will be fully investigated” and that “those responsible will be held accountable.”

A Tragedy Raising Serious Concerns

As the country mourns the victims, early analyses point to gross negligence. This fire, one of the deadliest in recent Turkish history, highlights potential lapses in safety standards at tourist establishments.