The fire began on the fourth floor of the 11-storey hotel around 3:30 a.m. local time and quickly spread, prompting a massive response from emergency services. Panicked guests were forced to jump off windows in an attempt to flee. More than 250 first responders are at the scene Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X.
Firefighters were still working to fully extinguish the flames hours later, Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin said in a statement to TRT.
Bolu Kartalkaya’da büyük otel yangını. Ölü ve yaralıların olduğu söyleniyor. İtfaiye ekipleri yangını söndürmek için seferberlik ilan etmiş durumda. pic.twitter.com/Lche5el3ww
— Gebze Yenigün Gazetesi (@gebzeyenigun41) January 21, 2025
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but Governor Aydin confirmed that it started on the restaurant floor of the hotel. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with officials expected to examine potential causes, including electrical faults or other safety violations.
The Turkish ski resort hotel was hosting 234 guests at the time of the fire. Rescue efforts were carried out amid chaotic scenes as smoke and flames engulfed the upper floors. Those injured were transported to local hospitals, and officials have not yet released information on the condition of the victims.
