Hotel fire in northern Turkey killed 76 and injured 50 people at ski resort - death toll expected to rise
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"As the Turkish Fire Department, we have experienced a very serious incident that will be recorded and a lesson will be learned. We will evaluate it".
A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, a ski resort in northern Turkey, has resulted in at least 76 fatalities and over 50 injuries. Around half the occupants are either killed or injured in the fire, which is now under investigation.
Photo Credit: The cover shot above is from a video shot by Turkish firefighters on location at the fire.
The fire erupted around 3:30 a.m. local time, night to Tuesday January 21, in the hotel's restaurant and rapidly engulfed the 12-story building, which was occupied by 234 guests at the time.
A challenging firefighting situation
The fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, Turkey, presented significant challenges for firefighters, which delayed their response and complicated rescue efforts:
- Remote Location: The hotel, situated in a mountainous ski resort, was difficult to access, particularly in adverse weather conditions. The location's isolation delayed the arrival of emergency services. (AP News)
- Adverse Weather: Snowy and icy conditions hindered fire trucks and emergency vehicles, making it difficult to reach the site promptly. The weather also complicated the deployment of equipment and personnel. (The Times)
- Building Structure and Rapid Fire Spread: The 12-story building’s layout contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which started in the restaurant and quickly engulfed the entire hotel. Some areas were difficult for firefighters to access due to the flames and smoke. (Sky News)
- Evacuation Challenges: The fire occurred during peak occupancy, with 234 guests in the hotel. Many guests attempted to escape by tying bedsheets or jumping from windows, adding to the chaos and making organized evacuation difficult. (CBS News)
- Fire Safety Standards: Preliminary investigations suggest that fire safety measures in the building may have been insufficient, with questions raised about fire alarms, evacuation routes, and compliance with regulations. (ABC News)
These factors contributed to the high death toll and complicated the firefighting and rescue operations significantly.
Panic caused guests to trample one another while fleeing the fire
"There was a stampede because the fire spread very quickly and people panicked in the smoke. Unfortunately, there are serious weaknesses in the hotel's fire safety. Many people could not evacuate", a Turkish firefighter said in the Whatsapp group Firefighters Alliance.
He added: "As the Turkish Fire Department, we have experienced a very serious incident that will be recorded and a lesson will be learned. We will evaluate it".
Hotel guests jumped and climbed from windows
Panic ensued as guests attempted to escape; some tied bedsheets together to descend from windows, while others jumped from the building, leading to additional injuries and fatalities.
Emergency response efforts were hampered by the hotel's remote location and adverse weather conditions, delaying the arrival of firefighting teams.
Authorities have detained nine individuals, including the hotel's owner, as part of an ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared a national day of mourning and pledged accountability for those responsible.
For more information, please refer to these sources:
Turkey hotel fire: at least 76 die at ski resort in Bolu mountains
At least 76 people killed in a hotel fire at a ski resort in Turkey