Turkey Ski Resort Fire: At Least 76 Killed, 51 Injured; 9 People Detained As Part Of Probe

Death toll mounted to 76 while 51 others sustained injuries as a massive fire raged through a 12-storey hotel at the popular Grand Kartal ski resort in northwestern Turkey's Kartalkaya early Tuesday, officials said. The location is around 300 kilometres east of Istanbul.

Earlier, commenting of the incident, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told Associated Press, “We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 76 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel.” Yerlikaya also added that 45 of the 76 people who were killed have been identified while efforts to identify the rest were underway.

What did President Erdogan say?

In view of the incident, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a day of national mourning to be observed on Wednesday. All flags at government buildings and Turkish diplomatic mission abroad would be lowered to half-staff, the Associated Press reported.

In an address in Ankara, Erdogan said: “Unfortunately, we received very sad news this morning from Bolu, Kartalkaya. Our brothers and sisters were killed and injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel.”

“All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable,” he added.

About the fire

As per reports, the fire occurred near the start of a two-week winter break for schools, when hotels in the region are packed. According to Yerlikaya, the hotel had 238 registered guests. At least two of the victims died when they jumped from the building in panic.

The fire was reported at 3:27 a.m. and the fire department began to respond at 4:15 a.m., he told reporters.

Media footage showed a smoke-blackened lobby with its glass entrance and windows smashed, its wooden reception desk charred and a chandelier crashed to the ground. NTV television suggested that the wooden cladding on the exterior of the hotel, in a chalet-style design, may have accelerated the spread of the fire.

Probe underway

In a bid to ascertain the cause behind the blaze, the government appointed six prosecutors. The fire believed to have started in the hotel's restaurant section.

Nine people have been detained as part of the investigation into the fire, Yerlikaya said. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the hotel's owner was among the people detained for questioning in the probe.

Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy told reporters that the hotel underwent inspections in 2021 and 2024 and that “no negative situation regarding fire competence” was reported by the fire department.

Meanwhile, a gas explosion at a hotel at another ski resort in central Turkey injured four people.

The explosion took place at the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center in Sivas province. Two skiers and their instructor were slightly injured while another instructor received second-degree burns to the hands and face, the Sivas governor's office said.