Deadly fire at ski resort hotel raises safety concerns

A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, Bolu Province, Turkey, on January 21, 2025, has resulted in the deaths of at least 78 individuals, with 51 others injured.

The blaze reportedly originated in the hotel's restaurant on the fourth floor and rapidly spread throughout the 12-story building, exacerbated by its wooden exterior cladding.

Survivors recounted the absence of functional fire alarms, sprinklers, and visible fire escapes, forcing some to jump from windows to escape the flames.

Winter school holidays

The incident occurred during the winter school holidays, a peak season for the ski resort, with the hotel nearly at full capacity, hosting approximately 238 guests. Among the victims were entire families and at least 20 children. Notable individuals who perished include a former Orduspor president and his family, a 10-year-old Fenerbahçe S.K. swimmer and her mother, and the dean of the faculty of business at Özyeğin University.

Hampered by remote location and freezing water

Emergency response efforts were hampered by the hotel's remote location and freezing weather conditions, leading to a delayed arrival of firefighting teams, who reached the scene over an hour after the fire was reported. The fire was eventually extinguished after 12 hours. In the aftermath, authorities have detained 11 individuals, including the hotel's owner and key local officials, as part of an ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire and potential negligence regarding safety measures.

The Grand Kartal Hotel, built in 2000, is a 12-story ski resort located in Kartalkaya, Turkey. It features 163 rooms and accommodates up to 500 guests during peak seasons. Known for its wooden exterior and mountain views, it was a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Photo from 2007: Melih Rustu, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Political dispute

This tragedy has ignited a political dispute between the opposition-run Bolu municipality and the national tourism ministry, each accusing the other of lapses in safety protocols. The hotel had previously applied for a fire safety permit but withdrew its application after failing to meet the necessary criteria, opting instead to obtain a safety report from a private auditing company. In response to the incident, there have been calls for stricter safety regulations and clearer legal language to prevent such disasters in the future.

As the nation mourns, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared January 22 a day of national mourning, with flags at government buildings and Turkish embassies abroad lowered to half-mast. He also attended funerals for some of the victims in Bolu, expressing sorrow and solidarity with the affected families.