A fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Turkish ski resort of Bolu has claimed 10 lives and left 32 others injured, as confirmed by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Reports suggest at least two victims died after jumping from the hotel windows to escape the flames. The fire erupted at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) in the 12-story hotel, which was hosting 234 guests during a busy holiday season. According to Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin, the blaze is believed to have started in the restaurant area on the fourth floor before spreading upward.

Footage circulating online shows linen draped from windows, apparently used by some guests in a desperate attempt to escape. Authorities are investigating whether anyone was trapped in their rooms as the fire consumed the building.

The distance between the hotel in Kartalkaya and the Bolu city center, combined with freezing weather conditions, delayed the arrival of fire engines by more than an hour. Rescue operations involved 267 emergency responders and continued into the morning. By mid-morning, efforts to reach parts of the hotel were still ongoing, according to the local mayor.

The Bolu mountains are a popular destination for skiers from Istanbul and Ankara, and the hotel was near full capacity at the start of the two-week school holiday period. Although the fire was contained to one hotel, a neighboring property was evacuated as a precaution.

Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan told local media he escaped because of his familiarity with the hotel. "People were shouting from the windows, ‘Save us,’ as thick smoke filled the building. We managed to rescue 20-25 people," he told NTV.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed that prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the incident.

Disclaimer:This image is taken from AP Photo.