A devastating fire broke out at a popular ski resort in Turkey on Tuesday, killing at least 76 people and injuring 51 others. The blaze occurred during a school break when children were out of school and many families went on vacation to the resort.
The cause of the fire is still unclear, but an investigation has been launched with six prosecutors assigned to look into the matter. Nine people, including the hotel’s owner, have been detained in connection with the incident.
Eyewitnesses described terrifying escapes as they struggled to find a way out of the smoke-filled building. The hotel had been inspected for fire safety in 2021 and 2024 but failed to pass, according to the Tourism Minister. However, no external fire escapes were visible in aerial footage of the building after the fire.
Turkey declared a day of national mourning following the disaster. Calls for accountability have been raised, but similar concerns remain unaddressed following previous disasters in Turkey, including powerful earthquakes that killed over 50,000 people in southern Turkey in early 2023.
The fire started at around 3:30 a.m. and was brought under control with the help of rescuers and firefighters from surrounding towns. Several people died after jumping from the building, while others were injured during the explosion at another nearby ski resort on the same day.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/world/europe/turkey-ski-resort-fire.html