Turkey ski resort hotel fire kills at least 66 people and dozens more injured

At least 66 people have been killed in the fire Picture: IHA via AP

A hotel fire that broke out at a popular ski resort has killed at least 66 people, Turkey’s interior minister says.

Ali Yerlikaya said at least 51 other people were injured in the disaster that took place early on Tuesday.

“We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel,” Mr Yerlikaya told reporters after inspecting the site.

Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in a serious condition.

The fire broke out at around 3.30am in the restaurant of the 12-storey Grand Kartal hotel in the resort of Kartalkaya in Bolu province, officials and reports said. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

There were 234 guests staying at the hotel, governor Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency.