A fire at a ski resort hotel in Turkey’s Bolu mountains killed 66 people on Tuesday and forced panicked guests to jump out of windows in the middle of the night.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said at least 51 other people were injured in the disaster that struck the Grand Kartal hotel in the resort of Kartalkaya, in Bolu province’s Koroglu mountains, some 300 kilometres (185 miles) east of Istanbul. The fire occurred during the schools’ semester break, when hotels in the region are packed.
“We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel,” Yerlikaya told reporters after inspecting the site.
“I would like to share this pain, which is impossible to describe,” he said in offering condolences.
Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in serious condition, while 17 other people had been discharged after being treated, he said.