Tuesday, January 21, 2025 In the chilling hours of early Tuesday morning, a picturesque winter haven in Turkey’s Bolu mountains was transformed into a scene of unimaginable horror. A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, nestled in the heart of the renowned Kartalkaya ski resort, erupted with deadly ferocity, claiming the lives of 66 people and leaving over 50 injured. This catastrophic blaze, which broke out at approximately 3:30 am, now stands as one of Turkey’s most harrowing winter tragedies.
The inferno ignited on the restaurant floor of the luxurious 11-story hotel, rapidly consuming the structure with horrifying speed. Guests, awakened by the suffocating scent of smoke and the deafening roar of flames, were thrust into a desperate fight for survival. In scenes reminiscent of a nightmare, many were forced to leap from their windows, white bed sheets trailing behind them like ghostly flags of surrender.
The Kartalkaya ski resort, a magnet for tourists seeking pristine snow and luxurious amenities, turned into a fiery trap as the inferno engulfed the Grand Kartal Hotel. Firefighters battled valiantly to control the blaze, but the roaring flames had already claimed dozens of lives. Witnesses described the scene as apocalyptic—thick black smoke billowing into the snow-drenched skies while anguished cries of trapped guests echoed through the mountains.
Rescue efforts were immediate but fraught with difficulty. A staggering 267 emergency personnel raced to the sit.
