A deadly fire engulfed a ski resort hotel in Kartalkaya, Turkey, early Tuesday morning, claiming at least 76 lives and leaving 51 others injured. Among the victims, many were children, including young students aged 10 and 11, as families and holidaymakers were caught in the flames and smoke.

The tragedy struck during the school holiday season, with 234 guests staying at the hotel in Bolu province. Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene as desperate guests leaped from windows and attempted to escape using tied bedsheets.

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Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, reported that the blaze began at 3:27 a.m., with emergency crews arriving nearly an hour later. Despite the swift mobilization of 267 emergency responders, including 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances, the 12-story cliffside structure posed significant challenges for firefighting efforts.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a national day of mourning on Wednesday, urging solidarity in the wake of the tragedy. “Today is a day for unity,” Erdogan emphasized, promising that those responsible would face justice.

Authorities have detained nine individuals as part of an ongoing investigation. Reports indicate that the hotel’s fire detection system failed to function, exacerbating the disaster. Survivors recounted the chaos, with one guest stating, “The alarm didn’t go off. My wife smelled the burning... We saw people hanging from windows, screaming for help.”

The resort, a popular winter destination for skiers from Istanbul and Ankara, saw its busiest period interrupted by the blaze. Other hotels in the area were evacuated as a precaution, with displaced guests accommodated elsewhere in Bolu.

As rescue operations and investigations continue, the Kartalkaya fire serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety measures in public spaces.