Focus on the BIG picture.
Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Safety Concerns Arise After Deadly Fire at Turkish Ski Resort Hotel

Safety Concerns Arise After Deadly Fire at Turkish Ski Resort Hotel

Investigation underway as 79 people die in a tragic hotel fire in Kartalkaya
Turkish authorities are currently addressing heightened concerns regarding safety protocols at a hotel situated in the highly frequented ski resort of Kartalkaya following a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 79 individuals and caused injuries to more than 50 others.

The fire occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning at the resort located in the Bolu mountains, approximately 190 miles east of Istanbul.

Survivors reported an absence of alarms, with many recounting their experience of navigating through smoke-filled corridors in darkness or resorting to jumping from windows.

Atakan Yelkovan, a guest, stated to the IHA news agency, 'No fire alarm went off ...

and there was no fire escape'.

Similar accounts were echoed by other survivors.

As forensic medicine units continue victim identification, Turkey's national flags were observed at half-mast in observance of a national day of mourning.

Turkey's Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, expressed the nation's grief, stating, 'We are in deep pain.

But you should know that whoever is responsible for causing this pain will not escape justice.'

In connection with the ongoing investigation, authorities have detained 11 individuals, including the Deputy Mayor of Bolu province and the hotel's owner and manager.

The hotel has pledged full cooperation, saying, 'We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident'.

Witnesses and survivors detailed harrowing scenes of chaos as they attempted to evacuate.

Cetin, an employee at a neighboring hotel, reported seeing individuals calling for rescue while others jumped to escape the smoke and flames.

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, inspected the site, affirming that the establishment had undergone fire safety inspections in 2021 and 2024 with no issues reported.

Reports on what ignited the blaze are inconclusive, although there are suggestions it began in a restaurant area.

Rescue operations faced challenges, particularly due to the hotel’s cliffside location.

The incident has left many families deeply affected, with several reports of entire families perishing in the fire.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the funeral of members of the Gültekin family, expressing the nation's condolence, 'Our hearts are broken,' he remarked at the service, honoring the family who were connected to an official in his ruling party.

The tragedy strikes at a time when the region is at full accommodation capacity, coinciding with the start of a two-week winter break for schools, amplifying the impact of the disaster on the local community.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Flip flop: UK Introduces New Immigration Policy to Reduce Net Migration
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Poland Tightens Immigration Policy with New Plan to Suspend Asylum Law
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Nissan Plans to Cut Over 10,000 Additional Jobs Worldwide
8-Year-Old Orders 70,000 Lollipops Using Mother’s Phone, Prompting $4,200 Amazon Bill and Viral Facebook Plea
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
American citizens account for 70% of worldwide pharmaceutical sales despite comprising only 4% of global population
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
New Details Emerge on Syrian Attacker's Motives in German Festival Stabbing
US and China Agree to Reduce Tariffs by 115% in Bilateral Trade Deal
Trump Defends Qatar's Offer of Jumbo Jet Amid Controversy
Brazil’s President Aims to Strengthen Ties with China Amid US Trade Tensions
Senate Democrats Move to Censure Trump Over Qatar Jet Gift
First White South Africans Resettled in the U.S. Amid Controversy Over Persecution Claims
Hamas Releases Last Living US Hostage from Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
British National Sentenced to Ten Years in Saudi Arabia for Deleted Tweet
India and Pakistan Agreement on Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Tensions
Trump's Upcoming Middle East Trip Excludes Israel, Raising Concerns Among Israeli Officials
Kurdistan Workers Party Announces Dissolution Amid Ongoing Conflict Resolution Efforts
Zelenskyy Seeks Ceasefire as Putin Proposes Direct Talks in Turkiye
Arsenal Stages Comeback to Draw 2-2 Against Liverpool in Premier League Clash
Transnational Crime Rings Exploit Stolen Identities to Drain Billions from U.S. Taxpayer Funds
U.S. and China Reach Preliminary Trade Agreement Amid Ongoing Tensions
US Withdraws Tourist Visas from Baja California Governor and Spouse
Trump's Upcoming Visit to Gulf Nations: Investment and Security at the Forefront
Rodrigo Duterte Awaits Trial at The Hague. Next week he might be elected mayor of his hometown
Trump fires director of U.S. Copyright Office, sources say
Trump says U.S. and China negotiated "total reset" in tariff talks
Retired British police officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet
Art Market Braces for Major Test Amid Economic Uncertainty
Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected as Pope Leo XIV, Marking a Historic Papacy
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested at ICE Facility Amid Congressional Visit
India-Pakistan conflict may be first test for Chinese military tech
Bill Gates Announces Plan to Wind Down Philanthropic Foundation and Disperse Wealth
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Huge Copper, Gold, and Silver Discovery in Argentina and Chile — But the Profits Go Abroad
The Road to Freedom: She Protested Putin, Escaped House Arrest, and Survived a 2,800-Kilometer Journey
Prince Harry is pleading for reconciliation — but the royals are just as sick of his victimhood as everyone else
OpenAI's Flip-Flop: No Longer Going Commercial, Back to Nonprofit, After Musk Lawsuit and Backlash
First From China: Zhao Xintong Wins the Snooker World Championship
Nvidia Faces Billion-Dollar Losses – Warns: China Is on Its Way to Becoming an AI Superpower
Trump Rules Out Third Term, Names JD Vance and Marco Rubio as Potential Successors
Mexico Says ‘No’ to U.S. Troops: President Sheinbaum Rejects Trump’s Offer to Fight Cartels
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Storms the Map, Wrecking the Two-Party Monopoly
DOGE: Reimagining Government Operations with AI
EU Hits TikTok with €530 Million Fine Over China Data Transfers
Beijing Says U.S. Is ‘Reaching Out’ for Tariff Talks Amid Soaring Trade Tensions
U.K. Court Rejects Prince Harry’s Final Appeal Over Police Security
Warren Buffett to Step Down as Berkshire CEO After Nearly 60 Years
×