Nearly 80 people have died after a fire broke out at a Turkish ski hotel during its busy holiday period.
A fire broke out at the 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) on 21 January.
The wooden-clad 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel was packed with at least 234 people at the time. At least 76 are said to have died, with at least two perishing after they jumped out of their windows to escape the flames.
The icy weather conditions, combined with the hotel’s distance from the centre of town, meant it took more than an hour for fire engines to arrive. It took 12 hours to put the fire out.
Nine people, including the hotel owner, have been arrested in connection to the fire. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said that the cause of the fire is being investigated.
The hotel is reported to have been inspected in 2024 with no concerns regarding its fire safety. There have since been reports from survivors of the blaze that warning systems did not work and the escape routes (of which there are two) could not be determined.
The identities of the 76 victims are yet to be determined, however, the BBC has reported the death of a 10-year-old swimmer with Fenerbahce Sports Club in Istanbul, Eslem Uyanik, a young chef at the hotel, as well as Ceren Yaman Dogan, the daughter of a well-known businessmen.
Feature image: Facebook, ITV
