Turkey has detained nine people after a fire at a ski resort hotel in Kartalkaya on Tuesday. The arrests included the owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.
The deadly fire in the Koroglu mountains of Bolu province, about 300km east of Istanbul, killed 76 people and left dozens injured.
The bodies of 45 people have been handed over to their families, while DNA tests are being conducted to identify the remaining bodies, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
“Forty-five bodies were delivered to their families. We could not [immediately] identify the others,” he said, adding that emergency response teams would conduct a final search for victims. The fire was reported at about 3am and the fire department responded an hour later, he said.
“Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning," Mr Yerlikaya said. ”But you should know that whoever is responsible for causing this pain will not escape justice."
The government appointed six prosecutors to lead an investigation into the blaze. The hotel, which had 238 guests at the time of the incident, pledged to assist the effort.
"We are co-operating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident," it said in a statement. "We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday to be a day of national mourning. All flags at government buildings and Turkish diplomatic missions abroad would be lowered to half-mast, he said.
The incident occurred during the peak of the winter tourism season, with many families from Istanbul and Ankara travelling to the region for skiing.
Authorities are facing growing criticism over the hotel’s safety measures, as survivors reported that no fire alarms went off during the incident. Guests said they had to make their way through smoke-filled corridors in complete darkness.
Survivors described scenes of panic as they fled and some jumped from windows to escape. Atakan Yelkovan, a hotel guest staying on the third floor, told the IHA news agency there was chaos on the upper floors as guests tried to escape using sheets and blankets.
“People on the upper floors were screaming. They hung down sheets ... some tried to jump,” he said.
Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the people injured was in a serious condition. Seventeen were treated and discharged.
At least two of the victims died when they jumped from the building in panic, Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency. Those killed included Nedim Turkmen, a columnist for Sozcu newspaper, his wife and two children, the newspaper reported.
Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, said he was asleep when the fire started and he rushed out of the building. He told NTV television that he helped guests escape to safety.
The hotel was engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for guests to find the fire escapes, he said. “I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,” he told the station.
Television images showed the roof and top floors of the hotel on fire. Witnesses and reports suggested that the hotel’s fire detection system failed to operate.
“My wife smelt the burning. The alarm did not go off,” said Mr Yelkovan. “We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t, there were flames. We went downstairs and came here [outside]."
Part of the 161-room hotel is on the side of a cliff, hampering efforts to tackle the flames. “Because the rear side is on a slope, intervention could only be made from the front and sides,” he added.
Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said the hotel underwent inspections in 2021 and 2024and that “no negative situation regarding fire competence” was reported by the fire department.
Earlier, in an address in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said: “Unfortunately, we received very sad news this morning from Bolu, Kartalkaya. Our brothers and sisters were killed and injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel. All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable."
Other hotels at the resort were evacuated as a precaution and guests were placed in hotels around Bolu.
The specs: Volvo XC40
Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000
Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
SRI LANKA SQUAD
Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella
Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna
Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
List of UAE medal winners
Gold
Faisal Al Ketbi (Open weight and 94kg)
Talib Al Kirbi (69kg)
Omar Al Fadhli (56kg)
Silver
Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Khalfan Belhol (85kg)
Zayed Al Mansoori (62kg)
Mouza Al Shamsi (49kg women)
Bronze
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Open and 94kg)
Saood Al Hammadi (77kg)
Said Al Mazroui (62kg)
Obaid Al Nuaimi (56kg)
Bashayer Al Matrooshi (62kg women)
Reem Abdulkareem (45kg women)
Brief scoreline:
Wales 1
James 5'
Slovakia 0
Man of the Match: Dan James (Wales)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Saturday's results
Brighton 1-1 Leicester City
Everton 1-0 Cardiff City
Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Watford 0-3 Liverpool
West Ham United 0-4 Manchester City
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
NATIONAL%20SELECTIONS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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Super Saturday race card
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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