Bolu (Turkey), Jan 21: A devastating fire at a hotel in northern Turkey has claimed the lives of at least 66 people and left 51 others injured, according to Anadolu Agency (AA), citing local authorities.
The fire began at approximately 00:27 GMT in the hotel's restaurant area and quickly spread throughout the building, as reported by Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin.
In response, emergency teams from nearby cities, including firefighters, disaster response units, and medical teams with helicopter support, were sent to the scene. Authorities successfully evacuated around 230 guests as efforts to control the blaze continued.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed that a judicial investigation had been launched by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Six public prosecutors have been assigned to the case, and a five-member expert committee has been established to examine the incident.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his sorrow, offering his condolences to the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. "I wish Allah's mercy to our citizens who lost their lives ... and wish a speedy recovery to our wounded," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The fire took place at a hotel in Kartalkaya, a popular winter resort in Bolu province, which draws thousands of visitors during the ski season. The resort is located about 295 kilometers east of Istanbul and is a favored destination, particularly during school holidays in January and February.
Governor Aydin reported that 234 guests were staying at the hotel when the fire broke out. According to CNN, two victims died after jumping from the building in panic. Disturbing footage shared on social media and broadcast by Turkish TV channels showed flames pouring from the hotel’s upper floors, with some people attempting to escape by tying bed sheets together to descend from the windows.
(With agency inputs)
