Turkey mourns those killed in hotel fire and efforts to identify them continue

Turkey is observing a day of mourning for the 76 victims of a fire at a popular ski resort hotel in the country’s northwest.

A fire broke out at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) at the 12-storey wooden Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu during the busy holiday season, with 234 people staying there. It took 12 hours to extinguish it.

An investigation into the incident has been launched and there have been conflicting reports about whether the hotel was up to safety standards.

Nine people including the hotel owner have been arrested.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is expected to visit Bolu on Wednesday, said those responsible for negligence that led to the fire “will be held accountable”.

Flags are flying at half-mast across Türkiye in memory of the victims of the fire, while the first funerals are being held.

Search and rescue teams are making their last efforts to find the remaining bodies.

In addition to those who died, 51 people were injured in the fire, according to Health Minister Kemal Mamisoglu. One was being treated in intensive care and 17 people have been discharged.

Footage broadcast in Turkey showed linens hanging from windows being used by people trying to escape the burning building.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin said initial reports suggested it started in the restaurant section of the hotel’s fourth floor and spread to the floors above.

The governor of Bolu said that it took more than an hour for fire engines to arrive due to the hotel’s remote location and freezing conditions.

The hotel was last inspected in 2024, and the tourism minister said there were no concerns regarding the hotel’s fire safety before Tuesday’s disaster.

However, the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) said that, according to regulations, an automatic fire extinguishing system was required, and from photographs of the hotel it appeared that one had not been installed.

It said it was unclear whether other regulations were followed, but based on statements from survivors, “It is understood that detection and warning systems did not function and escape routes were not determined.” Can be done”.

The Bolu Mountains are popular with skiers from Istanbul and the Turkish capital Ankara, about 170 km (105 mi) away, and the hotel was running at high occupancy at the start of the two-week school holidays.

Information about those who died in the fire is continuously emerging, although some bodies have still not been identified. At least two people died after trying to jump to safety.

The dead included many children and youth and in many cases multiple members of the same family were killed.

Turkish Airlines has confirmed this Zehra Sena Gultekin She died with her businessman husband Bilal Gultekin, And three children. The Bogazi Executives Foundation said Bilal’s two siblings were also killed, while Turkish media reported other family members also died.

Dentist Dr. Burak Hasar announced that his 15-year-old colleague, Dr. Yasemen Boncuk Tuzgireher husband Dr. Erhan Tuzgire, and their children to protect And Demir Everyone was dead.

The Turkish Wind Energy Association announced that two executives of one of its members, Innovate Energy Storage Solutions, were killed. He is the CEO of the company can tokkanhis brother atil annis tokkanand their children amazing And Atlas ear.

Tarsus American College announces the deaths of its graduates mert doganhis wife Duyguand their children Mavi And Dogan, Also the grandson of another graduate Omur Kotan.

İELEV School Association announces the death of students pelin gungorHis mother BurkuFather kiwank and brother Careem. Eslem UyanikA young chef at the hotel also died.

Professor Dr. Atakan Yalkinwho worked at Özyeğin University Faculty of Business, and his daughter elif derinboth died,

Nedim TurkmenistanSozku newspaper writer, his wife Neva like thisand their two children, 18 years old ala dora and 22 years old use ataAll were killed.

TED Istanbul College announces death of students Alikan Boduroglu, his sister elif nasAlso his mother abru,

TED Ankara College shares news of demise eren stale On your social media accounts.

Dilara ErmanogluThe 24-year-old was also one of the victims, and her father, who had gone to Bole in search of her, was treated for a heart attack by health workers.

Vedia Nil ApakA 10-year-old swimmer from Fenerbahce Sports Club in Istanbul also died along with her mother. ferda,

The club management also said so seren yaman doganThe wife of the vice president of its Bolu Association and her 17-year-old daughter. Lalin, were killed. Seren was also the daughter of a well-known local businessman.

Mehmet Cem Dogan, The director of OYAK Cement’s Bolu factory died, as well as his wife isemin elif and daughter Aise Maya,

The Turkish Neurology Association said its member, Dr. Ahmet Setiz, Killed along with his family.