Turkey mourns 76 victims of deadly hotel fire

A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, Turkey, has resulted in at least 66 fatalities and 51 injuries. The blaze erupted early Tuesday morning, engulfing the 12-story hotel that was filled with guests enjoying winter holidays. Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos as people attempted to escape, with some jumping from windows and others using makeshift ropes made from bedsheets. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a national day of mourning and stated that those responsible for the fire, including the hotel owner, will be held accountable. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, which has been exacerbated by the building’s wooden cladding that contributed to the rapid spread of flames. Many of the victims were students on vacation, and the hotel had been fully booked during the peak ski season.