Eyewitnesses describe chaos during deadly ski resort fire in Turkey
Witnesses of the Grand Kartal Hotel fire in central Turkey's Bolu province have said at least 66 died as people jumped from windows to escape, and rescuers used mattresses to cushion falls. Despite swift firefighting efforts, the hotel's height and the fire's intensity hampered rescue operations.
Duvar English
At least 66 people died in a fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in central Turkey's Kartalkaya Ski Resort. Witnesses described desperate rescue efforts, including using mattresses to cushion jumps from windows.
Eyewitness Barış Salgür said he worked at a nearby hotel and had gone to his room after work. Upon hearing commotion, he went outside and saw people shouting for help from windows, he told the Anadolu Agency (AA).
Salgür said they saw smoke from the upper part of the hotel and tried to help by bringing ropes, pillows, and blankets. “We were waiting for the fire department. Everyone was shouting. It lasted about two hours. Before the fire department arrived, the top section started burning. Two women threw themselves out of the building. When the fire department arrived, they pulled us back and took over. We tried to throw the rope as far as we could. An older man tied it and tried to hold on, but his hand slipped. He fell, breaking his leg. We tried to help him,” he said.
İdris Bilgin, who came to help, said he arrived at the site around 6 a.m. and brought blankets from nearby hotels. “When I arrived, the hotel was on fire. Crews were trying to extinguish it. We helped as much as we could,” Bilgin said.
Ali Atmaca, who was staying at a nearby hotel, said they woke up to cries for help and rushed downstairs. He described people jumping out of windows in panic.
“We brought mattresses to prevent people from hitting the ground directly. I don’t know how effective we were. We saw people die in front of us, which affected us deeply,” Atmaca said.
He continued, “The fire department arrived, but the hotel’s height made their work difficult. We brought blankets and mattresses to help. People were considering jumping out with their children. They were shouting for blankets, and thankfully, the fire department rescued the child in time. Although rescue efforts were swift, the large area made it difficult, and many people lost their lives before our eyes.”