Posted on 01/21/2025 7:58:26 AM PST by BenLurkin
At least 66 people have been killed in a fire that engulfed a popular Turkish ski resort hotel, leaving some to jump out of windows.
The fire broke out at the wooden-clad 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) during a busy holiday period when 234 people were staying there.
An initial toll of 10 dead was raised significantly in the hours after the fire by Turkey's interior ministry. At least two people died after trying to jump to safety.
It took 12 hours for the fire to be put out. Four people have been arrested, including the owner, the justice minister says.
The cause of the fire has not yet been found, but...initial reports suggested it had broken out in the restaurant section of the hotel's fourth floor and spread to the floors above.
Aydin said the distance between the hotel, in Kartalkaya, and the centre of Bolu, paired with the freezing weather conditions, meant it took more than an hour for fire engines to arrive. Emergency services sent 267 workers to the site.
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The hotel was last inspected in 2024, and the tourism minister said there had been no concerns regarding the hotel's fire safety prior to Tuesday's disaster.
However, the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) said that according to regulations, an automatic fire extinguisher system is needed.
"In the photos on the hotel's website, it is seen that the automatic sprinkler system, which was supposed to be installed in 2008, was not installed," the union said in a statement.
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The Bolu mountains are popular with skiers from Istanbul and the capital Ankara, which is roughly 170km (105 miles) away, and the hotel was operating at high occupancy at the start of two-week school holidays.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Justice comes swift in Turkey... When will Karen Bass be arrested?
Snow skiing is not what comes to mind when I think of Turkey. Prayers for the victims and their families.
Lots of mountains in Turkey
Four people have been arrested, including the owner, the justice minister says.
I don’t think they’ll be able to take the “Midnight Express”.
In the photos on the hotel’s website, it is seen that the automatic sprinkler system, which was supposed to be installed in 2008, was not installed,”
Paying off the local officials back in the day winds up costing in the long run.
Perhaps some people at the Department of State weren’t too happy with the way Erdogan has cozied up to the Russians. The sooner they’re gone, the safer the world will be.
Yikes. That doesn’t look good.
an automatic fire extinguisher system is needed
They have been saying this since 2008? Geesh. I can’t even go a minute if there is a problem with my required sprinkler system in the shop. And I have to have the inspection every year. If the inspector sees something he doesn’t like he shuts me down before he even leaves the shop.
They’re more likely to get the coat peg in the head.
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