AssetID: 54452415
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Fire Ravages Turkish Ski Hotel, Claims 76 Lives Amid Holiday Tragedy
Caption: Fire Ravages Turkish Ski Hotel, Claims 76 Lives Amid Holiday Tragedy. At least 76 people were killed in a fire that ravaged the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu during the busy holiday period, forcing some to jump out of windows to escape, BBC News reports. The blaze started at 03:27 local time in the 12-storey wooden-clad hotel housing 234 guests. Initial reports suggest the fire began in the restaurant on the fourth floor and spread upwards. The fire raged for 12 hours before being extinguished, with freezing weather and the hotel's remote location delaying emergency response times by over an hour. Victims included young swimmer Vedia Nil Apak and her mother, chef Eslem Uyanik, and academic Prof Atakan Yalcin. Families and notable locals were among those who perished. Guests used linen ropes to climb down windows. Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan escaped via the ski room and later assisted with relief efforts. Nine people, including the hotel owner, have been arrested. Prosecutors are investigating potential negligence, with the hotel’s fire safety compliance under scrutiny. The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects revealed the absence of an automatic sprinkler system and alleged failures in detection, warning systems, and escape routes. Of the 51 injured, one remains in intensive care while 17 have been discharged. Emergency teams, totaling 267 workers, were dispatched to the site. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a day of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast, and vowed accountability for negligence leading to the disaster. The Bolu mountains, a favored ski destination near Istanbul and Ankara, were at peak activity as the hotel hosted many families during school holidays. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Ski Hotel,Claims,Lives,Amid,Holiday,Tragedy,Bolu,Turkey,Grand Kartal,Emergency,Services,Response,Jump Out,Windows,Restaurant,Disaster,Wooden-Clad,Housing
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