Bolu: A fire at a ski resort in northern Trkiye killed at least 76 people and injured 51 others, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday. Of the injured, 17 were discharged from hospital while one remains in intensive care, Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said.
According to Anadolu Agency, the fire broke out at around 3.30 a.m. local time (0027GMT) in the restaurant area of the Kartalkaya ski resort hotel, quickly engulfing the building, as stated by Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin. It was brought under control after 10 hours of work by firefighters, while efforts to cool down the affected areas continue. Emergency teams from neighboring cities, including firefighters, disaster response units, and medical teams supported by helicopters, were dispatched to the scene.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that an investigation into the incident has been launched by a team of six prosecutors, along with a five-member expert committee. Tunc stated that four people, including the owner of the hotel, were detained as part of the investigation. The investigations of the expert committee on the cause of the fire are ongoing, and work is underway to determine any fault.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that a total of nine people were detained as part of the ongoing investigation. Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, speaking at a press conference, emphasized that the necessary documentation and checks were in place against fire hazards. He added that the hotel had a certificate of fire safety issued by the fire department, a mandate of the fire brigade, and that regular checks are carried out by the fire brigade.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences on X and vowed that all necessary steps would be taken to clarify all aspects of the incident and hold those responsible to account. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The fire has attracted international attention and condolences. EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib expressed her deepest condolences to Trkiye and the families of the victims. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, also expressed their sorrow and solidarity with Trkiye.
Leaders from several countries, including Greece, Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, conveyed their condolences. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed their sympathies in official messages.
The Kartalkaya resort in Bolu is one of Trkiye's premier winter tourism destinations, attracting thousands of visitors during the ski season. The resort lies around 295 kilometers (183 miles) east of Istanbul.