In a tragic accident in Turkey, a fire in a twelve-story hotel located at the Kartalkaya ski resort left at least 69 people dead and another 68 injured. The Grand Kartal hotel, completely constructed of wood and opened in 1998, was the scene of this terrible disaster. The fire originated around 3:30 AM local time, and despite the efforts of firefighters who worked for ten hours to extinguish the flames, the tragedy could not be avoided. At the time of the fire, 238 people were staying in the building.
Among the many reactions this unfortunate incident has generated, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her condolences to Turkey through her social media. Von der Leyen conveyed her solidarity with the victims and their families and acknowledged the bravery of the rescue teams who fought the fire at the Grand Kartal hotel. Additionally, Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, joined in mourning the loss of life in this tragic event.
Regarding the investigation into the incident, Turkish Interior Minister Yılmaz Tunç reported that four people have been arrested, including the owner of the establishment. Although an initial report indicated a total of 66 fatalities, the mayor of Bolu, the provincial capital, raised the confirmed death toll to 69. The tragedy at the Grand Kartal hotel has shocked the international community, and various political leaders have expressed their solidarity with Turkey during this difficult time.
