Death toll in ski resort hotel fire climbs to 66

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A fire that broke out at a ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey has claimed the lives of 66 people and left victims launching themselves out of windows in a bid to save themselves. The blaze broke out overnight at the restaurant of a hotel in the resort of Kartalkaya in Bolu province, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin told Turkish news outlet TRT the fire started on the fourth floor of the 11-storey hotel at around 3.30am. Harrowing footage showed the top floors and roof of the hotel engulfed in flames, as some guests attempted to climb down from their rooms using sheets to escape the blaze. In an interview following the devastation, a witness claimed that when the flames appeared, people suddenly started jumping from the 11th floor in panic.

Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin told Turkish news outlet TRT the fire started on the fourth floor of the 11-storey hotel at around 3.30am. Harrowing footage showed the top floors and roof of the hotel engulfed in flames, as some guests attempted to climb down from their rooms using sheets to escape the blaze. In an interview following the devastation, a witness claimed that when the flames appeared, people suddenly started jumping from the 11th floor in panic.

He also recalled seeing a man fall on his head after using torn bedsheets to climb down the side of the flaming building. 'One father was yelling about his one-year-old child: "I will thrown my child or he will burn"', the witness added. Since the fire broke out, the death toll has tragically climbed to 66, the interior minister said. 'Our pain is great,' Yerlikaya told reporters at the Kartalkaya resort, around 100 miles northwest of the capital Ankara. '66 citizens lost their lives and 51 others wounded.'

He also recalled seeing a man fall on his head after using torn bedsheets to climb down the side of the flaming building. ‘One father was yelling about his one-year-old child: “I will thrown my child or he will burn”‘, the witness added. Since the fire broke out, the death toll has tragically climbed to 66, the interior minister said. ‘Our pain is great,’ Yerlikaya told reporters at the Kartalkaya resort, around 100 miles northwest of the capital Ankara. ’66 citizens lost their lives and 51 others wounded.’

Turkish authorities on Tuesday detained four suspects including the owner of the hotel. 'As part of an investigation led by six prosecutors, four people including the hotel owner were detained,' Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on X./Twitter. Health minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in a serious condition. Footage showed huge plumes of smoke rising into the sky with a snow-capped mountain behind the hotel.

Turkish authorities on Tuesday detained four suspects including the owner of the hotel. ‘As part of an investigation led by six prosecutors, four people including the hotel owner were detained,’ Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on X./Twitter. Health minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in a serious condition. Footage showed huge plumes of smoke rising into the sky with a snow-capped mountain behind the hotel.

The resort is located on top of a mountain range about 170 kilometres (100 miles) northwest of the capital Ankara. The fire, which is believed to have started in the restaurant at around midnight, spread quickly. It was not immediately clear what caused it. 'Two-hundred and sixty-seven personnel from various public institutions and organisations responded to the fire and the response is ongoing,' Yerlikaya wrote on X/Twitter.

The resort is located on top of a mountain range about 170 kilometres (100 miles) northwest of the capital Ankara. The fire, which is believed to have started in the restaurant at around midnight, spread quickly. It was not immediately clear what caused it. ‘Two-hundred and sixty-seven personnel from various public institutions and organisations responded to the fire and the response is ongoing,’ Yerlikaya wrote on X/Twitter.

Part of the hotel backs onto a cliff, which made it harder for firefighters to tackle the blaze. At the time of the inferno breaking out, there were 237 were staying at the hotel where its occupancy rate was between 80 and 90 percent due to the school holidays, according to local reports. Some 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances rushed to the site, as other hotels at the resort were evacuated as a precaution.

Part of the hotel backs onto a cliff, which made it harder for firefighters to tackle the blaze. At the time of the inferno breaking out, there were 237 were staying at the hotel where its occupancy rate was between 80 and 90 percent due to the school holidays, according to local reports. Some 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances rushed to the site, as other hotels at the resort were evacuated as a precaution.

Those evacuated were rehoused in nearby hotels. Justice Minister Tunc said six prosecutors had been allocated to investigate the blaze. The health, interior and culture ministers are expected to visit the site later in the day.

Those evacuated were rehoused in nearby hotels. Justice Minister Tunc said six prosecutors had been allocated to investigate the blaze. The health, interior and culture ministers are expected to visit the site later in the day.

In an address in Ankara, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said: 'Unfortunately, we received very sad news this morning from Bolu, Kartalkaya. 'Our brothers and sisters were killed and injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel. All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable,' he added.

In an address in Ankara, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said: ‘Unfortunately, we received very sad news this morning from Bolu, Kartalkaya. ‘Our brothers and sisters were killed and injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel. All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable,’ he added.

Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, said he was asleep when the fire erupted and he rushed out of the building. He told NTV television that he then helped some 20 guests out of the hotel. He said the hotel was engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for guests to find the fire escape. 'I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,' the ski instructor told the station.

Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, said he was asleep when the fire erupted and he rushed out of the building. He told NTV television that he then helped some 20 guests out of the hotel. He said the hotel was engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for guests to find the fire escape. ‘I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,’ the ski instructor told the station.

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