The death toll from a devastating fire that engulfed a hotel at the Kartalkaya ski resort in northwestern Turkey rose to 66, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. The fire, which broke out early Tuesday morning, also left 51 people injured.

Eyewitnesses reported desperate attempts by guests to escape, with some using bedsheets as makeshift ropes to climb down, while others tragically lost their lives attempting to jump from windows. Footage showed sheets hanging from windows, and local media reported that three of the victims died after jumping to safety.

Blaze at Grand Kartal Hotel

The fire erupted at 3:27 a.m. (12:27 GMT) in the 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel, known for its wooden cladding. The hotel was near full capacity, with 238 guests registered during the peak of a two-week school holiday. The blaze, believed to have started in the restaurant, spread rapidly through the structure. While the exact cause remains unknown, officials confirmed that the fire has since been contained.

The hotel’s location, partially backing onto a cliff, posed challenges for firefighters working to control the flames. “Our pain is great,” Minister Yerlikaya said from the scene, where several other ministers had also arrived to oversee rescue efforts.

Witness Accounts and Survivor Reports

Baris Salgur, an employee at a nearby hotel, described the chaos. “I heard screams around midnight. Guests were shouting for help, asking for blankets to jump. We brought ropes, pillows, and even a sofa to help. Some people jumped when the flames got too close.”

Survivors criticized the hotel’s safety measures, stating that no alarms sounded when the fire began and alleging the lack of proper fire stairs or smoke detectors. One survivor told local media, “There were no alarms, no safety. We had to find our own way out.”

Tourism Minister Nuri Ersoy, however, noted that the hotel had two fire escapes. Footage of the wreckage revealed a charred lobby with broken glass and blackened wooden furniture, underscoring the extent of the destruction. Authorities have warned that the building is at risk of collapse.

Government Response

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed deep sorrow, cutting short an address at his party congress in Ankara. “Our pain is great, our heartache is great,” he said. The president assured the public that thorough administrative and judicial investigations would be conducted to determine the cause of the fire and hold those responsible accountable.

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that six prosecutors had been assigned to lead the investigation. Evacuated guests have been rehoused in nearby hotels as authorities continue to assess the damage and investigate the tragedy.

A Tragic Scene

Television footage captured plumes of smoke rising against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains, while images from the site showed destroyed interiors and makeshift escape attempts. The incident has drawn attention to safety standards in the hospitality industry, with calls for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations.

As Turkey mourns the loss of 66 lives, the nation awaits answers to what caused this devastating fire and whether it could have been prevented.