Tragic Fire at Turkey's Ski Resort Claims the Lives of 78, Including 36 Children; Nation in Mourning

Tragic Fire at Turkey's Ski Resort Claims the Lives of 78, Including 36 Children; Nation in Mourning

An intense fire at the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel located at the Kartalkaya Ski Resort in the northwestern Bolu province of Turkey has resulted in the tragic death of 78 people. Among the victims, 36 are children. The incident occurred as the children were beginning their two-week winter holiday. On Friday, January 25, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the fire.

Many of the 238 registered guests, in a desperate bid to escape the flames and smoke, jumped from windows or tried to escape by tying bed sheets together to climb down.

President Erdoğan's Commitment

President Erdoğan stated, "Those who have caused this pain to our nation due to greed or negligence must face the court." He made this statement during his speech at his party's congress in Malatya.

The investigation into the fire has led to the arrest of 14 people, including the hotel owner, staff members, and three municipal officials from Bolu. Eight suspects have been presented before prosecutors, including the hotel owner, the manager, the temporary fire chief of Bolu, an architect, and kitchen staff.

Safety Lapses and Negligence

Initial reports suggest the fire originated on the fourth floor of the hotel restaurant. The fire spread quickly through the wooden-finished hotel. Eyewitnesses stated that the hotel lacked adequate fire alarms, sprinklers, and emergency exit routes.

The disaster has cast a shadow of mourning over Turkey. On Friday, the funeral for six-year-old Dila Inal, her eight-year-old sister Ela, and their 44-year-old mother, Defne Arkadas Inal, was held in Istanbul. Their Georgian nanny, Laura Kurtanidze, will be buried in Georgia.

Post-Disaster Investigation and Politics

Following the disaster, a blame game has begun between the Turkish government and the Bolu municipality. The Bolu municipality is controlled by Turkey's main opposition party, which has turned the incident into a political debate.