Hotel fire claims 10 lives at Türkiye’s renowned ski resort
A fire broke out at a hotel in Türkiye's Kartalkaya Ski Resort, a prominent tourist destination, leaving 10 dead and 32 injured, according to initial reports, in Bolu, Türkiye, on Jan. 21, 2025. (AA Photo)
A fire broke out at a hotel in Bolu’s Kartalkaya Ski Resort, one of Türkiye’s renowned tourist destinations, claiming the lives of 10 people and injuring 31 others, according to initial reports.
The blaze started around 4 a.m. (GMT+03) in the hotel’s restaurant area and quickly engulfed the entire building. Emergency crews, including firefighters and medical teams, were dispatched to the scene.
Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydın informed that the cause of the fire is not clear.
Guests were evacuated immediately; however, as the hotel was fully booked due to the midterm school holiday, the fire claimed 10 lives and left 31 others injured, according to preliminary findings.
Ministers depart to hotel fire scene
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced via social media that the fire began at 3:27 a.m. (GMT+03), stating that a team of 267 personnel was deployed to respond to the fire.
Following the incident, Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, and Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy will travel to the site by helicopter to assess the situation firsthand, to gather detailed information about the extent of the fire and ensure that necessary measures are taken.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that a judicial investigation has been launched by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the hotel fire in Bolu’s Kartalkaya, with six public prosecutors assigned alongside a team of five experts.
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.”
Efforts to control the fire and investigate its cause are ongoing and authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims.
Kartalkaya in the province of Bolu is one of Türkiye’s premier winter tourism destinations, attracting thousands of visitors during the ski season. The resort lies around 295 kilometers (183 miles) east of Istanbul.
