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Turkey reels from ski resort fire that claimed young lives, entire families

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Turkey is mourning the loss of at least 76 people, including children and entire families, after a devastating fire tore through a ski resort hotel in the northwestern province of Bolu that exposed serious fire safety failures and sparked outrage over potential negligence.

The blaze erupted at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time Tuesday at the Grand Kartal Hotel, a 12-story resort in the Kartalkaya ski region, a popular winter destination. The fire, which started in the hotel’s restaurant area, spread rapidly through the building, trapping sleeping guests. Some victims reportedly tried to escape by tying bedsheets together, while others succumbed to the thick smoke before reaching safety. Firefighters battled the flames for hours as rescuers struggled to evacuate the 238 registered guests.

Families wiped out, young lives lost

Among the dead were entire families, young athletes, students and professionals.

The fire claimed the lives of many members of the Gültekin family. Bilal Gültekin, a sales director at a private company, was killed along with his wife, Zehra Sena, and their three children. Gültekin’s adult sister and brother also died in the tragedy. Zehra Sena Güner Gültekin, a Turkish Airlines employee, was the daughter of former Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmaker Mehmet Güner.

Reports indicate that more than 10 members of the extended Gültekin family were among the victims.

During a funeral for members of the Gültekin family, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was a pallbearer for the coffin of Zehra Sena Güner Gültekin. In his address at the service, Erdoğan expressed his condolences.

The fire also claimed the lives of journalist Nedim Türkmen, his wife Neva Türkmen and their daughters Pelin and Ala Türkmen. Ala, a high school senior at the SEV American College, was memorialized in a school statement: “We will always remember our student with our beautiful memories of her.”

Students from prestigious schools across Turkey also perished in the fire. TED İstanbul High School confirmed that ninth-grade students Alican Boduroğlu and Elif Nas Boduroğlu, along with their mother Ebru Boduroğlu, did not survive. TED Ankara High School reported the death of 10th-grade student Eren Bağcı.

Several accomplished professionals lost their lives, including Özyeğin University Business School Dean Prof. Dr. Atakan Yalçın and his daughter Elif Derin Yalçın, cement giant Vicat’s Turkey R&D and Quality Director Ayşemin Elif Doğan and her daughter Ayşe Maya Doğan, as well as Oyak Cement Factory Director Mehmet Cem Doğan.

Fenerbahçe Sports Club announced the death of young swimmer Vedia Nil Apak and her mother, Ferda Apak. The club also confirmed that Bolu Fenerbahçe Fans’ Association Vice President Rıfat Doğan’s wife, Ceren Yaman Doğan, and their daughter Lalin Doğan perished in the fire.

Eslem Uyanık, a rising culinary star recognized by the Michelin Guide, was among the victims. The 27-year-old chef was known for her international achievements and innovative dry-aged fish techniques.

Can Tokcan

The Turkey Wind Energy Association confirmed that Can Tokcan, CEO of Inovat Energy Solutions, and his brother, sales manager Atıl Enis Tokcan, died in the fire along with Can’s two children, Kemal and Atlas Kaan Tokcan.

The Ankara Dentists’ Association announced the death of Erhan Tüzgiray, whose wife, Yasemin Boncuk Tüzgiray, and their two children, Defne and Demir, also perished.

The Turkish Medical Association confirmed that neurologist Dr. Ahmet Çetiz lost his life in the fire, along with his wife and three children.

Çetiz was a medical officer in the Turkish Armed Forces who was expelled from the army while serving as a major as part of a massive purge following a failed coup in 2016. A total of 24,706 officers and petty officers were dismissed in the post-coup purge. Most dismissed officers have faced ongoing difficulties reintegrating into civilian life, and medical officers such as Çetiz had a hard time finding employers willing to hire them despite their expertise.

Dentist Kübra Tonguç Altın and her young daughter, Alya Altın, were also among the victims.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that nine people had been detained in connection with the fire as authorities launched an investigation into possible negligence. The minister stated that forensic teams had identified 52 victims, while DNA testing was being conducted to confirm the identities of the remaining victims.

Officials have faced mounting criticism over fire safety measures at the Grand Kartal Hotel, which reportedly lacked adequate fire escapes and had questionable fire suppression systems. Survivors reported that no fire alarms sounded when the blaze erupted, raising concerns about whether safety protocols were properly followed.

Social media users and advocacy groups have demanded accountability, pointing out that the hotel’s wooden-clad structure and inadequate fire precautions increased the death toll. “If Dr. Çetiz [one of the victims] had lost the owner of this hotel while operating on him due to complications, he would have faced massive legal action. Yet, an entire hotel burns down without basic fire safety measures, and the owners will probably walk free,” one social media user wrote.

The scale of the disaster has plunged the nation into mourning. Flags were lowered to half-mast as the government declared a day of national mourning to honor the victims. Families gathered in grief as funeral services began for those lost in the fire.

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