Death toll rises to 66 in ski resort hotel fire in Bolu, Türkiye

The blaze started around 12:27 a.m. local time (12:27 p.m. GMT) in the hotel’s restaurant area, rapidly spreading throughout the 12-story building, according to Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin.

Emergency response teams from Bolu and surrounding provinces, including firefighters, disaster units and medical personnel supported by helicopters, were dispatched to the scene.

Approximately 230 guests were evacuated as fire crews battled the flames for over 10 hours.

Witnesses reported seeing some vacationers tying bed sheets together and hanging them from windows in desperate attempts to escape.

Firefighters used laddered basket vehicles to access the hotel’s upper floors, where the fire intensified. Cooling efforts in the area are ongoing.

Sozcu columnist Nedim Turkmen, who was staying there with his family, has been unreachable since this morning despite efforts to contact him.

Family members searching nearby hospitals have yet to find any trace of Turkmen. Known for his passion for skiing, Nedim Turkmen is a respected figure in economic circles, admired for his expertise and insight into financial data.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had initiated a judicial investigation. Six prosecutors and a five-member expert committee have been assigned to determine the cause of the fire.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences in a post on X, stating, “I wish Allah’s mercy to our citizens who lost their lives … and wish a speedy recovery to our wounded.”

President Erdogan extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the hotel fire at Kartalkaya through a statement on his social media account.

Emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing, Erdogan stated, “We have been following closely from the very beginning through our relevant institutions, and investigations have been immediately initiated.”

President Erdogan: “(Hotel fire in Kartalkaya) All necessary steps will be taken and are being taken to clarify the incident in all aspects and to hold those responsible to account.”