Kartalkaya, Turkey – An investigation has implicated negligence in a deadly fire that engulfed the Grand Kartal Hotel, claiming the lives of 78 guests at the northern Turkish ski resort. The tragic incident unfolded early Tuesday morning, prompting a national day of mourning and widespread outrage over alleged safety inadequacies.
The head of the Ankara Chamber of Architects, Derya Basyilmaz, who visited the site with a team of experts, highlighted multiple safety lapses. “Unfortunately, there isn’t just one party to blame. It appears to be a collective failure at numerous levels,” Basyilmaz reported. Her team is currently preparing an in-depth report on the disaster.
Authorities have taken action in light of the allegations. The hotel’s owner and several key staff members, along with the fire chief of the nearby town of Bolu, have been arrested, according to statements from the justice ministry. Preliminary investigations revealed that despite the hotel having a fire alarm system, it was nonfunctional at the time of the fire, which also lacked basic preventative technology like sprinklers.
Survivors’ accounts have painted a grim picture of the hotel’s preparedness. Many reported the absence of fire alarms, safety exits, and fire doors in the 12-story building. All these factors led to guests being dangerously trapped during the blaze.
Although Tourism Minister Nuri Ersoy contended that the hotel had two fire escapes, Basyilmaz noted that only one fire staircase was adequately protected, proving insufficient for the 238 guests present. Safety features, like fire-resistant doors and multiple escape routes, were sorely lacking. “Without these, it was almost impossible to safely evacuate such a crowded building,” she added.
Basyilmaz criticized the infrequent and outdated safety inspections at the Grand Kartal. While the minister cited inspections in 2021 and 2024 as evidence of compliance, the architect could only confirm a fire safety report dating back to 2007. She emphasized the necessity of regular and updated inspections, particularly as safety regulations evolve over time.
The blaze is believed to have originated in the hotel’s fourth-floor restaurant. Legal requirements for commercial kitchens demand rigorous safety measures, including sprinkler systems which were absent in the hotel. Additionally, the hotel’s scenic but remote location hampered emergency response efforts. “The area’s challenging topography made it difficult for firefighters to access critical areas and perform rescues,” Basyilmaz explained.
Complicating the quick spread of the fire was the building’s wooden cladding. This material, while aesthetically pleasing, contributed significantly to the rapid progression of the fire, leaving behind nothing but the structure’s concrete framework and a charred interior.
This incident starkly mirrors the responsiveness seen after the February 2022 earthquake in southern Turkey, where urgent inspections revealed widespread non-compliance with the nation’s earthquake safety regulations. The current tragedy underscores a similar urgent need for stringent adherence to fire safety protocols to prevent future calamities.
As the community mourns the substantial loss of life, the ongoing investigation into the fire at Grand Kartal Hotel continues to develop, with a comprehensive report from Basyilmaz’s team expected to offer further insights and possibly pave the way for regulatory reforms in building safety standards.