Turkey 76 dead in fire at Turkish ski hotel
At least 76 people have been killed in a hotel fire in a Turkish ski resort. So far, 52 people have been identified as dead, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, referring to "compatriots". The search work had now been completed. The fire in the hotel in Bolu province took the 238 guests by surprise during the night.
21.01.2025, 21:01
SDA
Videos from the morning showed people trying to escape from the windows by tying bed sheets together. An eyewitness told the newspaper "Hürriyet" that it was almost impossible to find the stairs to the emergency exit due to the heavy smoke.
According to the governor, two people died after jumping out of the window. The fire-fighting and cooling work continued until the evening.
The cause of the fire is still unclear and an investigation has been launched. The broadcasting authority imposed a news blackout - local media must therefore only adhere to public announcements.
Turkey is currently on school vacation. The Kartalkaya ski resort is a popular destination for winter vacationers. According to Yerlikaya, nine people have been arrested so far, including the owner of the hotel.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a day of national mourning for the disaster in the evening.
