Turkey ski resort hotel fire: Death toll rises to 76

A deadly fire broke out early Tuesday morning at a 12-story hotel in Kartalkaya – a well-known ski resort in northwestern Turkey – claiming the lives of at least 76 people, including schoolchildren on a winter break.
The blaze, which started in the hotel’s restaurant section, also left 51 people injured, some seriously, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
The fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Koroglu Mountains, about 300 kilometers east of Istanbul, erupted around 3:27 a.m. While many guests attempted to escape the flames, at least two victims tragically died after jumping from the building in desperation.
“Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning,” Yerlikaya said, adding that those responsible for the tragedy would face justice.