The fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, a popular ski resort, has sparked widespread grief across Turkey.
Deadly Ski Resort Fire Claims 76 Lives in Turkey
Deadly Ski Resort Fire Claims 76 Lives in Turkey
Turkey observes a day of mourning following a catastrophic hotel fire that left 76 dead in Bolu's Grand Kartal Hotel.
In Bolu, Turkey, a nation is grieving the loss of 76 lives from a devastating fire that engulfed the Grand Kartal Hotel during peak holiday season. The inferno erupted at 03:27 local time and burned for 12 hours, leading to an investigation amid questions surrounding the hotel’s safety compliance. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged accountability for negligence as flags at half-mast honor the victims. Search teams are concluding their operations, while 51 injuries from the blaze have been reported, with one person in intensive care. Eyewitness accounts reveal desperate escape attempts, sparking scrutiny over the hotel's adherence to fire safety regulations.
Among the deceased are multiple families, including the Gültekin family, the Tüzgiray family, and numerous children, which has intensified the tragedy's emotional toll on the community. Bolu officials have reported that initial findings suggest the fire originated in the hotel's fourth-floor restaurant, while concerns about fire safety measures have emerged after the last inspection in 2024 found no issues. The Turkish Engineers and Architects Union noted a lack of essential safety systems, leading to fears that both warning systems and escape routes failed during the crisis. Families from across Turkey, including those from Istanbul and Ankara, gathered at the hotel for vacation, making this tragedy even more poignant as communities come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.
Among the deceased are multiple families, including the Gültekin family, the Tüzgiray family, and numerous children, which has intensified the tragedy's emotional toll on the community. Bolu officials have reported that initial findings suggest the fire originated in the hotel's fourth-floor restaurant, while concerns about fire safety measures have emerged after the last inspection in 2024 found no issues. The Turkish Engineers and Architects Union noted a lack of essential safety systems, leading to fears that both warning systems and escape routes failed during the crisis. Families from across Turkey, including those from Istanbul and Ankara, gathered at the hotel for vacation, making this tragedy even more poignant as communities come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.
