A devastating hotel fire in Turkey has claimed multiple lives. The tragedy occurred on Tuesday in the Kartalkaya winter sports region in the northern province of Bolu. According to CNN Türk, the fire broke out at 3:30 am local time in the restaurant of the 11-story hotel, with the cause initially unknown.
Thirty fire trucks were engaged in the rescue efforts, and 28 ambulances arrived at the scene. At the time of the tragedy, there were 237 people in the building. Local media reported that some people attempted to escape by climbing out of their rooms using bed sheets. Television footage shows the hotel’s roof and top floors engulfed in flames.
Latest reports indicate that the fire has claimed at least ten lives, with 32 others injured. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Russia’s embassy in Ankara has informed the RIA Novosti news agency that it has no information at the moment on whether any Russian citizens were staying at the affected hotel.
Kartalkaya is a popular ski resort in the Köroğlu mountain range, located around 40 kilometers from the provincial capital of Bolu and approximately 270 kilometers from Istanbul.