Ski resort blaze leaves one dead as hotel goes up in flames

A fire at a closed ski resort hotel in northwest Turkey killed one person Thursday, two months after a blaze at another Turkish winter resort left 79 dead.

The Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, Bursa province, was empty of guests when the fire started at 5:30 a.m. but staff were present, Bursa Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said. Three people suffering smoke inhalation were hospitalised.

The 30-year-old hotel was shut following inspections conducted after the Grand Kartal Hotel fire in nearby Bolu province in January, Halk TV and other outlets reported.

TV images showed flames quickly engulfing the six-story hotel, on the slopes of one of Turkey's most popular ski destinations less than a three-hour drive from Istanbul.

Fire crews brought the blaze under control within two hours but not before the upper floors had been gutted.

Bozbey said the fire began in the cafeteria. The fire in Bolu also started in the hotel dining area. 

The state-run Anadolu news agency on Wednesday reported fresh arrests relating to the Bolu fire, taking the number of people in detention awaiting trial to 28.

The Bolu fire broke out in January at the wood-clad 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel early in the morning. 

The fire occurred during a busy holiday period, which saw 234 people staying at the hotel.

After the fire began early in the morning, it took 12 hours to put out due to the icy conditions and the remote location - there is only one road going in and out of the area the Grand Kartal Hotel lies. 

Turkey announced a national day of mourning after the Bolu fire, which saw flags across the country fly at half-mast. 

The country's resident Recep Tayyip Erdogan said shortly after the fire that those responsible for alleged negligence leading to the fire 'will be held accountable'. 

More to follow.