A catastrophic fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort of northwestern Turkey on January 21, 2025, resulting in a tragic death toll of 76 victims and injuring at least 51 others, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The inferno erupted around 3:30 AM local time in the restaurant area of the 12-story hotel, which was fully occupied during the busy school semester break with 234 guests present.

Authorities reported that several guests, panicked by the fast-spreading smoke and flames, attempted to escape by jumping from windows or utilizing bed linens to descend from upper floors. Some victims tragically lost their lives during these desperate attempts to flee the fire. Eyewitness accounts described scenes reminiscent of an apocalypse, with guests screaming as they were trapped in smoke-filled corridors.

The smoke engulfed the hotel rapidly, and significant delays in responding to the emergency arose, with fire trucks reportedly taking up to an hour to arrive on the scene. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a day of national mourning in response to the incident, expressing deep sorrow on social media and promising accountability for those responsible.

Reports from the scene indicate potential failures with the hotel's fire safety systems, with guests stating that alarms did not sound as the fire spread. One witness noted, “My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off,” raising concerns about the hotel’s compliance with safety regulations.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the fire's causes, leading to the arrest of nine individuals, including hotel management. The government has appointed a team of six prosecutors to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Witnesses reported that the hotel’s wooden exterior cladding may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

As rescue operations continued throughout the day, neighboring hotels were evacuated as a precaution, and affected guests were relocated to other accommodations in the Bolu region. Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Sivas province, a gas explosion at another ski facility injured four individuals.

This tragic event highlights ongoing concerns regarding fire safety regulations in the hospitality industry, particularly in densely populated tourist destinations. As investigations unfold, many are left grieving the loss of their loved ones in what should have been a joyous winter holiday.

For further details, please refer to the original reports by The Guardian, Independent, and NPR.