A deadly fire tore through the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey’s Kartalkaya ski resort, killing 66 people and injuring 51 others. The tragedy unfolded on January 21, 2025, at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time when the blaze erupted in the hotel’s restaurant area. Officials are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause and whether any safety violations contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
At the time of the fire, the 12-story wooden structure housed 238 guests, many of whom were families enjoying Turkey’s school winter break. Witnesses described scenes of panic as some guests used improvised ropes made of bedsheets to descend from windows, while others jumped to their deaths in desperate attempts to escape the inferno.
Emergency responders faced significant obstacles reaching the remote mountain resort, compounded by severe winter conditions. Despite their efforts, the flames engulfed large portions of the building before they were brought under control. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya expressed profound grief over the tragedy, remarking, “This is a heartbreaking moment for our nation.” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared a national day of mourning and pledged a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
Initial reports suggest potential failures in the hotel’s fire detection and suppression systems, raising questions about compliance with safety standards. In response, authorities have detained four individuals, including the hotel’s owner, as part of a criminal investigation. Experts are also scrutinizing whether the hotel adhered to fire safety regulations.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Turkey, overshadowing the typically festive winter tourism season. Kartalkaya ski resort, a popular destination for skiers from Istanbul and Ankara, is now at the center of national mourning following one of the country’s deadliest hotel fires in recent memory.