The devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey’s popular Kartalkaya ski resort has claimed at least 10 lives, with 32 others injured. Survivors have raised serious concerns about the lack of fire safety measures, reporting that no fire alarms were activated during the blaze. Furthermore, the hotel reportedly lacked designated fire escapes, leaving guests scrambling for survival.
The fire broke out during peak season, with the hotel’s occupancy rate reaching 80-90% due to school holidays. Many guests resorted to desperate measures, using bedsheets and ropes to escape from upper floors. Disturbing footage shows makeshift escape methods as thick smoke engulfed the building.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the high altitude and icy conditions hampered their efforts. Authorities are now investigating the hotel’s compliance with fire safety regulations and the exact cause of the fire, which remains unclear.
This tragedy has sparked a nationwide conversation about fire safety standards in Turkey’s hospitality sector. As families mourn the loss of loved ones, calls for stricter regulations and routine inspections in hotels are growing louder.
