Deadly Fire at Turkish Ski Resort

Deadly Fire at Turkish Ski Resort

January 22, 2025: A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkey, has claimed at least 76 lives and injured 51 others. The blaze erupted early Tuesday morning during a busy school holiday when the hotel was nearly full with 238 registered guests.
The fire, believed to have started in the hotel’s restaurant, quickly spread, exacerbated by the chalet-style wooden cladding. Guests reported chaos as smoke filled the 12-story building, making it challenging to locate fire escapes. Some attempted to climb down using sheets, while others jumped from windows to escape.

Emergency responders faced challenges due to the hotel’s cliffside location, which limited access. Fire crews reportedly took nearly an hour to arrive, raising concerns about response times. Nine individuals, including the hotel owner, have been detained as part of an investigation into the incident. Officials are probing allegations of negligence, including a failure in the fire alarm system.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared a day of national mourning, with flags flown at half-mast. The tragedy has prompted scrutiny of fire safety standards in tourist accommodations, despite inspections in 2021 and 2024 that reportedly found no issues at the Grand Kartal Hotel.

Among the deceased were journalist Nedim Türkmen, his wife, and two children. Survivors shared harrowing accounts of their escape, with one guest describing how the lack of an alarm and delayed firefighting efforts exacerbated the disaster.

The government has vowed to hold those responsible accountable, and additional safety measures are expected to be implemented across similar facilities. As a precaution, other nearby hotels were evacuated, and guests were relocated to safer accommodations.

This incident underscores the need for stringent fire safety enforcement, particularly in high-risk establishments such as resorts. Immediate action is required to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.