(CNN): Early on Tuesday morning, dozens of people died in a terrible fire at a ski resort hotel in northwest Turkey, causing frightened visitors to jump out of windows to escape the smoke and flames. The country was shocked when the catastrophe occurred at the Kartalkaya resort in Bolu province.
According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the fire claimed at least 76 lives and injured 51 others, many of them youngsters. 52 people have been recognized by authorities, and area businesses and schools are currently in mourning for the death of employees and pupils, including fifth graders who were between the ages of 10 and 11.
Yerlikaya confirmed that 66 persons died in the fire and expressed her deep sadness. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, called for unity over political debate and announced a national day of grief. Erdogan pledged on social media to hold those found guilty accountable.
Thick smoke filled the 12-story hotel as terrified guests fled the escalating flames by jumping out of windows. Videos displayed the burned-out structure with smoke rising from the higher stories. Witnesses described the terrifying scenes, including individuals trying to flee using homemade ropes made from bed linens and screaming coming from the top levels.
The hotel's cliffside setting made things more difficult for firemen. Nearly an hour after the fire started at 3:27 a.m., emergency personnel arrived at 4:15 a.m. Nine people have been arrested as part of the inquiry into the cause of the fire, according to Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.
To make matters worse, guests complained that the hotel's fire alarm system did not sound. According to one survivor, Atakan Yelkovan, his wife detected the smoke, but the flames prevented them from getting to safety. He reported seeing visitors attempting to flee by tying sheets together or leaping in fear and heard screaming from the higher stories.
The absence of fire extinguishers and the delayed emergency response infuriated the onlookers. One visitor described how desperate the people inside were, pointing out that there were no basic firefighting supplies. Another said that rescue personnel arrived too late to stop the disaster and that they were unable to get water for those who were stranded.
The hotel had been at full capacity, with 234 guests staying there during Turkey’s school holiday season, a peak period for the Kartalkaya resort. Families from major cities like Istanbul and Ankara flocked to the Bolu mountains for winter vacations, adding to the number of victims.
“Guests jumped out of the building in panic, resulting in two fatalities,” Governor Abdulaziz Aydin said. As a precaution, other adjacent hotels were evacuated, and displaced guests were moved to Bolu for close lodging.
Numerous resources, including 267 emergency personnel, 30 fire engines, and 28 ambulances, were dispatched by authorities to the area. The enormity of the fire claimed many lives despite their best attempts, and the area suffered significant damage in the wake of the incident.
The tragedy might have been exacerbated by the hotel's allegedly insufficient fire safety precautions. The public is furious about the event and the resort's poor safety procedures, which attract thousands of tourists each year.
The nation is currently grappling with the dead toll and the need to address public safety concerns. Investigations are still primarily focused on ensuring accountability and preventing future disasters.
