1o killed, 32 injured after a devastating fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the popular Kartalkaya ski resort in Turkey, on Tuesday.
Turkey Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya took to X and informed about this tragic incident.
The blaze erupted at 3:27 am in the 12-storey hotel known for its wooden cladding, he wrote on X.
“In this tragic incident 10 lost their lives while 32 sustained injuries”, Yerlikaya informed.
As per media reports three victims lost their lives after jumping from the hotel windows.
Kartalkaya, a well-known ski resort, is situated atop a mountain range approximately 170 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Ankara, Turkey’s capital.
According to media reports the fire erupted in the hotel’s restaurant around midnight. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
CCTV footage captured massive clouds of smoke billowing from the burning structure against the backdrop of a snow-covered mountain. Part of the hotel, which backs onto a cliff, posed challenges for firefighting efforts.
As per police reports about 237 guests were staying at the hotel at the time of this tragedy. As the fire started engulfing restaurant parts, guests were immediately evacuated and accommodated in nearby hotels.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that six prosecutors had been assigned to investigate the incident. Health, interior, and culture ministers are also expected to visit the scene later in the day.
