At least 10 people have died and 32 others have been hospitalized after a devastating fire broke out at a hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort, located in Bolu province, northwestern Turkey. The blaze erupted overnight in the hotel’s restaurant, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

The fire spread quickly, and in the chaos, two victims reportedly died after jumping from the building in panic, while others tried to escape by climbing down using sheets. With 234 guests staying at the hotel at the time, many were trapped in the smoke-filled building.

Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the resort, described rushing out of the hotel when the fire started and helping around 20 guests to safety. Despite the dangers, Kepcetutan expressed concern for his missing students, hoping they were safe.

Television images captured the hotel’s roof and top floors engulfed in flames, while emergency responders worked tirelessly to manage the crisis. Local authorities dispatched 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances to the scene.

While the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, speculation suggests that the hotel’s wooden cladding may have contributed to the rapid spread of flames. The fire occurred during the school semester break, when the resort was filled with visitors.

In response to the emergency, other hotels at the resort were evacuated as a precaution. The incident has left the community shaken, and authorities are continuing their investigations into the cause of the fire.