Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his deep sorrow for the tragic loss of at least 66 lives following a fire at a hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu province of northwestern Turkey.
In a post on X on Tuesday afternoon (January 21, 2025), Greek PM Mitsotakis wrote:
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the ski resort fire in Bolu, Turkey. On behalf of Greece, I extend heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish a swift recovery to the injured..”
The fire broke out at 3:27 a.m. at the Grand Kartal Hotel, a popular destination for winter tourism in Kartalkaya, located approximately 300 km west of Istanbul and 180 km from Ankara. At the time of the blaze, most hotel guests were asleep in their rooms, a factor believed to have contributed to the high death toll.
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.