Turkey mourns those killed in Bolu hotel fire as efforts to identify them continue

A day of mourning is underway in Turkey for the 76 victims of a fire that engulfed a popular ski resort hotel in the northwest of the country.

A fire broke out in the 12-story wood-clad Grand Kartal Hotel in Bol at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT), where 234 people were staying during the holiday season. It took 12 hours to extinguish.

An investigation has been launched into the incident and there have been conflicting reports as to whether the hotel met safety standards.

Nine people have been arrested, including the owner of the hotel.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is expected to visit Bolura on Wednesday, said those responsible for the negligence that caused the fire “will be held accountable”.

Flags are flying at half-mast across Turkey in memory of the victims of the fire, as the first funerals are held.

Search and rescue teams are making last-ditch efforts to find the remaining bodies.

Along with the dead, 51 people were injured in the fire, according to Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu. One was receiving treatment in intensive care, and 17 people have been discharged.

Footage circulating in Turkey showed ropes hanging from windows, used by people trying to escape from the burning building.

The cause of the fire has not yet been discovered, but Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin said initial reports suggested it started in the restaurant section of the hotel’s fourth floor and spread to the upper floors.

Governor Bolu said the hotel’s remote location and freezing conditions took more than an hour for fire engines to arrive.

The hotel was last inspected in 2024, and the tourism minister said there had been no concerns about the hotel’s fire safety before Tuesday’s disaster.

However, the Union of Chambers of Engineers and Architects of Turkey (TMMOB) said that according to the regulations, an automatic fire extinguisher system was required, and photos of the hotel showed that none had been installed.

He added that it is not clear whether other regulations were followed, but based on the statements of the survivors, “it is understood that the detection and warning systems did not work and the escape routes could not be determined.”

The Bolu mountains are popular with skiers from Istanbul and the Turkish capital, Ankara, some 170 km (105 miles) away, and the hotel was very busy at the start of the two-week school holidays.

Information about those killed in the fire continues to spread, although some bodies are yet to be identified. At least two people died after trying to jump to safety.

Among the dead are many children and young people and, in many cases, several members of the same family have been killed.

Turkish Airlines confirmed this With Zehra Sena Gult she died together with her husband, the businessman with Bilal Gult, and three children. The Boğaziçi Executives Foundation said Bilal’s two siblings were also killed, and Turkish media reported that other relatives were also killed.

Dr. Burak Hasar announced his colleague of 15 years, Dr. Yasemen Boncuk Tüzgirayher husband Dr. Erhan Tüzgiray, and their children the bay and iron they all died.

The Turkish Wind Energy Association announced that two executives of one of its members, Inovat Energy Storage Solutions, had died. They are the CEO of the company Can Tokcahis brother Atil Enis Tokcaand their children Kemal and Atlas Kaan.

Tarsus American College announced the death of its graduates Mert Doganhis wife the feelingand their children the blue and dog, as well as the granddaughter of another graduate At Ömür Kota.

The association of İELEV Schools announced the death of the students Pelin Gungorhis mother zodiac signfather The pride and brother Kerem. Eslem Uyanithe hotel’s young cook also died.

Professor Atakan Yalçınwho worked at Özyeğin University’s Faculty of Business and his daughter Elif Derinboth died.

Nedim TurkmenSozcu newspaper writer, his wife Ayse Nevaand their two children, 18 years old Dora Wing and 22 years old Great ancestorthey were all killed.

TED Istanbul College announced the death of students Alican Boduroğlu, his sister Elif Nasas well as their mothers marbling.

He shared the news of the death of TED Ankara College Eren Bağcı on his social media accounts.

Dilara ErmanogluThe 24-year-old was also among the victims, and his father, who went to Bolura to look for him, was treated by health workers for a heart attack.

They know Nil ApaA 10-year-old swimmer from the Fenerbahce Sports Club in Istanbul also died, along with his mother. Ferda.

The club management also said that Ceren Yaman Doganthe wife of the vice president of the local Bolu association and their 17-year-old daughter moon, they were killed Ceren was also the daughter of a well-known local businessman.

Mehmet Cem Dogan, The director of the Bolu plant of OYAK cement died, as did his wife Ayşemin Elif and daughter Ayşe Maya.

A member of the Turkish Neurological Society said: Dr. Ahmet Çetiz, he was killed along with his family.