Fire at Turkish Ski Resort Hotel Claims 10 Lives, Injures 32
AFP | Bolu
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A devastating fire erupted at a hotel in the popular ski resort of Kartalkaya in northwestern Turkey early Tuesday, leaving at least 10 people dead and 32 others hospitalized, officials confirmed.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that the blaze began overnight in the hotel’s restaurant, quickly spreading throughout the building.
Two of the victims reportedly lost their lives after jumping out of the building in a desperate bid to escape the flames, Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency. Private broadcaster NTV reported that other guests attempted to climb down from their rooms using bed sheets.
Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor staying at the hotel, described the chaos as he woke to the fire and rushed to safety. Speaking to NTV, Kepcetutan recounted how he helped around 20 guests evacuate despite the thick smoke that disoriented many and made locating fire escapes challenging.
Kartalkaya, nestled in the Koroglu Mountains approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Istanbul, is a favored destination for skiing enthusiasts. The tragedy occurred during a busy school semester break when the region's hotels were at full capacity.
In response to the emergency, Governor Aydin's office dispatched 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances to the scene. Nearby hotels were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which has cast a shadow over what is typically a vibrant and bustling winter holiday season in the region.
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