Arrests Made after 76 Killed in Blaze at Turkish Ski Hotel
dpa
(TNS)
Istanbul — The number of people killed in a fire at a Turkish ski hotel has risen to at least 76, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday evening.
So far, 52 of the deceased have been identified, said Yerlikaya, who referred to them as "compatriots." Dozens more people were injured.
The fire in the hotel in the province of Bolu, some 300 kilometres east of Istanbul, surprised the 238 guests during the previous night.
Videos from the morning showed people trying to escape using bed sheets tied together to climb out of the windows. An eyewitness told the newspaper Hürriyet that due to the heavy smoke, it was difficult to find the stairs to the emergency exit.
According to the governor of Bolu, two people died after jumping out of the window.
Extinguishing and cooling operations continue
The extinguishing and cooling operations were still continuing hours later.
The cause of the fire is still unclear, and an investigation has been launched. The broadcasting authority has imposed a news blackout, meaning local media must adhere only to official announcements.
Currently, it is a school holiday period in Turkey. The ski resort Kartalkaya is a popular destination for winter holidaymakers. So far, according to Yerlikaya, nine people have been arrested, including the owner of the hotel.
One of the oldest hotels in the area
Local officials said the hotel was one of the oldest in the area and was made primarily of wood, which could have led to the fire spreading quickly.
The hotel is built on a hill, which made it harder to tackle the flames from all sides, Yerlikaya added.
Eylem Şentürk, who was staying at the hotel with her husband and daughter, told state broadcaster TRT that heavy smoke had made it almost impossible to find the door and the fire escape.
Şentürk also said the fire alarm did not work as the guests raced to save themselves.
On Tuesday evening, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared a day of national mourning due to the catastrophe.
©2025 dpa GmbH. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
