66 dead in hotel fire at ski resort in Turkey

66 people have died and over 50 have been injured in a hotel fire in the Turkish ski resort of Kartalkaya, several news agencies report.

– We feel deep pain, says the country's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

The fire started in a restaurant on the fourth floor during the night of Tuesday and people jumped out of the building in panic.

– I can't find any of my students. I hope they are okay, a ski instructor tells the privately owned television channel NTV according to TT.

A total of 234 guests are said to have stayed in the twelve-story hotel. What caused the fire is still unclear.
 

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The fire brigade is fighting the flames in Kartalkaya. Photo: IHA via AP/TT

More than 60 people have died in a fire at a hotel in the ski resort of Kartalkaya in northern Turkey.

The fire broke out in the hotel's restaurant on Tuesday night, according to the country's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

- We feel deep pain. Unfortunately, we have lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out in this hotel, Yerlikaya said after visiting the scene.

More than 50 more people are reported to have been injured in the fire that broke out at 03:30 local time. At least one person is seriously injured, according to Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu.

234 guests are said to have stayed at the twelve-story hotel.

A ski instructor at the hotel says he was sleeping when the fire broke out. He managed to help about 20 guests and get out of the hotel himself, he tells the privately owned television channel NTV.

- I can't find any of my students. I hope they are okay.

It is unclear what caused the fire, which occurred during a school holiday when hotels in the area are generally fully booked. Kartalkaya, about 300 kilometres east of Istanbul, is a popular ski resort located in the Köroglu mountain range.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.