A devastating fire erupted at a hotel in Bolu’s Kartalkaya ski resort on Jan. 21, leaving at least 10 people dead and 32 hospitalized. The blaze began in the hotel’s restaurant section and rapidly spread through the 12-story building due to its wooden cladding exterior.
The fire broke out at around 3:30 a.m., catching most guests asleep. The hotel was occupied with 234 guests, as the incident coincided with the school semester break, a peak season for the region.
Desperate Escape Attempts
Footage from the scene revealed the terrifying moments as guests tied bedsheets together to escape through windows. Tragically, two victims lost their lives after jumping from the building in panic.
Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydın confirmed the extent of the damage and described the harrowing rescue efforts. Firefighters battled the flames for hours, focusing on the upper floors and attempting to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby wooded areas. The hotel’s location near a cliff and icy access roads significantly hampered rescue operations.
Emergency Response
A field hospital was set up near the site to treat the injured. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his condolences on social media and coordinated with key officials, including Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, who traveled to the scene.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced an investigation, appointing six prosecutors and a team of five experts to determine the cause of the fire and investigate potential negligence by the hotel administration.
Ongoing Challenges and Safety Concerns
The incident highlights the risks posed by wooden exterior claddings in fire safety. The investigation will examine whether the hotel adhered to safety regulations and if emergency response measures were adequate.
The tragedy underscores the need for stringent fire safety protocols, particularly in crowded establishments during peak tourist seasons.
Cem Cetinguc
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