A tragic hotel fire in the popular ski resort of Kartalkaya in Turkey’s northwestern Bolu province has sparked a fierce debate over accountability, with the Culture and Tourism Ministry and the Bolu Mayor’s Office accusing each other of negligence regarding the inspection of the hotel.
The fire erupted at around 3:30 a.m. local time Tuesday in the Grand Kartal Hotel, a 12-story ski resort popular with vacationers during Turkey’s midterm school holiday, claiming the lives of 76 people and injuring 51 others.
The flames, reportedly originating in the hotel’s restaurant, spread rapidly through the building, which had significant wooden cladding, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Fire crews battled the inferno for hours as desperate guests attempted to escape by tying sheets together and climbing out of windows. Some fell to their death.
Survivors pointed to glaring safety violations at the hotel, noting that no fire alarms went off when the fire broke out and that many guests were trapped due to the lack of functioning fire escapes. Official statements have contradicted survivor accounts, with Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy claiming the hotel had two fire escapes. However, footage from the scene has fueled skepticism, with no visible fire exits in some parts of the building.
The minister also alleged that the hotel had been inspected in 2021 and 2024, with the necessary permits and fire safety certificates issued by the fire department, which operates under the Bolu Municipality. He said the fire department is responsible for regular inspections and certifications and added that no issues had been reported to date.
In response Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), argued that the authority for inspections lies with the Culture and Tourism Ministry. He said during a live broadcast on Tuesday that the hotel’s license was granted by the ministry in 1997.
“I don’t know if there is a fire escape or not. Since we didn’t issue the license, we have no information. … The area is referred to as the National Parks region. It is outside our jurisdiction,” Özcan said.
In Turkey, National Parks refer to designated areas of significant natural beauty or ecological importance that are protected by the government to conserve biodiversity, prevent environmental degradation and allow for controlled public access.
A document revealed by the pro-opposition Halk TV showed that the hotel owners had sought to obtain a fire safety permit from the municipality on December 12, 2024, but after being informed that they only met one out of nine required criteria, they withdrew their application on December 25.
Journalist Altan Sancar said in a tweet that because the authority lies with the ministry, the municipality could not take any action after the company withdrew its application.
“The company, knowing that the responsibility rests with the ministry, took advantage of this situation. If there is any fault on the part of the municipality, it is failing to turn these findings [regarding the hotel] into a criminal complaint,” Altan said.
Bolu Belediyesi İtfaiye Müdürlüğü denetim görevini yerine getirmiş. Dünden bu yana yaşanan top çevirmelerin nedeni ve sorumlular artık açık biçimde ortaya çıktı. Yetki bakanlıkta olduğu için şirket dilekçeyi geri çekince belediye adım atamamış. Sorumluluğun bakanlıkta olduğunu… https://t.co/YnOXiwHGSh
— Altan Sancar (@altansancarr) January 22, 2025
The Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the fire aimed at thoroughly examining any negligence and shortcomings that led to the disaster.
Meanwhile, members of the Ankara branch of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) on Wednesday held a protest in front of the Tourism Ministry building over the hotel fire.
They chanted the slogans “Do not bow down, hold the murderers accountable” and “Murderous bosses, murderous AKP,” referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
“They show no shame. On the morning after condemning people to their deaths, they start searching for someone to blame, yet refuse to look in the mirror. … Look in the mirror, Minister Ersoy. And never forget … you will be held accountable for all these crimes,” Ali Ufuk Arikan, head of the party’s Ankara branch, said in the statement read on behalf of the group.