ANKARA, Turkey – The investigation into the tragic hotel fire at a ski resort has led to a rise in the number of detainees, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announcing that 14 suspects have been taken into custody. This incident has highlighted the critical need for accountability in the face of negligence and safety oversights that may have contributed to the disaster.
The fire broke out early Tuesday morning at the Grand Kartal hotel, a 12-story establishment located in Kartalkaya, northwestern Bolu province. At the time, the hotel was hosting 238 guests, with 78 lives lost, including numerous children, as reported by local media. The blaze occurred during the winter break for schools, intensifying the communal grief surrounding the event.
Desperate efforts to escape the inferno were witnessed as guests and staff attempted to flee through windows or fashioned makeshift escape routes with bed sheets, all while engulfed in smoke and flames. This disaster has reverberated throughout the nation, igniting a profound outcry for transparency and accountability surrounding potential negligence and safety breaches.
In a speech delivered during a local congress of his party in Malatya, Erdogan expressed his determination to ensure that those responsible for the tragedy resulting from “mistakes, negligence, irregularities, and greed” will face justice. He emphasized his authority’s commitment to accountability in the legal system.
The detained individuals include the hotel owner, several staff members, and three officials from the Bolu mayor’s office. The investigation has also revealed a dispute between the government and the Bolu municipality, which is governed by the main opposition party.
According to reports, eight of the detained suspects are set to be brought before prosecutors to answer for their roles. Those implicated include the hotel owner, various managerial staff, the acting fire chief of Bolu, a retired architect, as well as kitchen personnel.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the flames originated from the restaurant area on the hotel’s fourth floor, with a rapid spread to higher levels. Concerns have also been raised regarding inadequate safety measures in the hotel, such as missing fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and emergency exits.
Funerals for the victims continue across Turkey, including a poignant ceremony in Istanbul for 6-year-old Dila Inal and her 8-year-old sister, Ela, who were laid to rest alongside their mother, 44-year-old Defne Arkadas Inal. The family’s Georgian nanny, Laura Kurtanidze, who also lost her life in the calamity, is to be buried in Georgia.
