In brief
A fire at a ski resort in Turkey resulted in a tragic loss of life and injuries as families vacationed during the school break. Eyewitness accounts reveal harrowing escape attempts.
A catastrophic fire erupted at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, Turkey, early Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals and leaving 32 others injured. The blaze broke out around 3:30 a.m. local time and quickly spread as most guests were asleep, coinciding with the winter school break that attracts families to the slopes.Witnesses reported that some guests attempted to escape the flames by tying bedsheets together to create a makeshift rope, enabling them to climb down to a safer level. However, several guests remained trapped as smoke filled the hotel, causing panic. “When I left my room, I saw flames on the fourth floor, where the restaurant is located. It rapidly engulfed the hotel,” recounted Necmi Kepcetutan, a skiing instructor at the hotel. He aided others in evacuation but struggled to reach certain guests due to the thick smoke enveloping the area.Local authorities dispatched rescue teams and fire engines from nearby towns. The source of the fire is still under investigation, leaving the community in shock as video footage showed dense smoke rising against the picturesque backdrop of snow-covered mountains. As this tragic incident unfolds, the focus remains on aiding those affected and uncovering the causes behind this devastating fire.
