Hotel fire at Turkiye ski resort kills at least 10

A fire at a ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey has resulted in at least 10 fatalities, according to an official announcement. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the fire broke out in the hotel restaurant at the Kartalkaya resort in Bolu province at midnight. Additionally, 32 people were hospitalized for injuries sustained in the blaze.

Yerlikaya wrote on X, "267 personnel from various public institutions and organizations participated in the firefighting efforts, and rescue operations are still underway." Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin, in an interview with Turkish news agency TRT, said that the fire started around 3:30 AM (00:30 GMT), originating on the fourth floor of the 11-story hotel. Firefighters were still working to extinguish the flames several hours later.

Aydin added that the cause of the fire will be investigated by authorities, noting that it started on the restaurant floor. He also told the official Anadolu news agency that two of the victims died after jumping from the building in panic. It is reported that 234 guests were staying at the hotel at the time.

Television footage showed the hotel's roof and top floors engulfed in flames. Kartalkaya is a major winter tourism destination in Turkey, attracting thousands of visitors during the ski season. The resort is located approximately 295 kilometers (183 miles) east of Istanbul.