76 killed in a fire at a Turkish resort

On the night of January 21, a devastating fire engulfed a hotel at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Turkey's Bolu province. The death toll has risen to 76 people, reports NewsBox.

The fire began in the Grand Kartal Hotel, which was hosting 234 guests at the time of the tragedy. The incident occurred at 3:27 AM local time, during the peak of the ski season and school holidays. Initial reports indicated 66 injured, many of whom are in critical condition, writes BBC.

The flames reportedly started in a restaurant area on the fourth floor and quickly spread throughout the building. According to the provincial governor Abdulaziz Aydın, the hotel's distance from the city center and harsh weather conditions delayed the firefighters, who arrived an hour later.

Some guests attempted to escape by jumping from windows or climbing down makeshift ropes made from bed linens. However, not all managed to avoid the tragedy. At least two individuals died from falling out of windows.

Ski instructor Nedjmi Kepchetutan, who was in the building during the fire, said he survived thanks to his good knowledge of the layout.

"People were shouting for help from the windows: 'Save us,' and there was thick smoke inside. We managed to rescue around 20-25 people," he shared in an interview with NTV channel.

The cause of the blaze is still unknown. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç reported that the prosecution has begun an investigation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his condolences to the victims' families.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, but smoke and collapsed structures hinder access to some parts of the hotel. Turkish media report that rescuers continue to try reaching surviving sections.

This tragedy has shocked the entire country, especially during the tourist season when resorts are bustling with visitors. Safety and the timely response of emergency services have become topics of wide discussion among experts and the public.