As the investigation continues into the terrible fire that ravaged a hotel in Turkey, leaving 78 people dead and plunging the whole country into national mourning, the owner of the establishment appears to be laying the blame for the tragedy at the feet of his staff after a series of irregularities and safety deficiencies were discovered at the hotel, that led to the fire taking such a high number of victims, half of them children.
Initial investigations into the terrible event have revealed that the Grand Kartal Hotel, which caught fire at 3.30 am on 21 January in the ski resort of Kartalkaya in Bolu province, lacked a fire extinguishing system and other fire safety measures required by law; it also lacked an external fire escape and proper or marked fire exits, and survivors confirm that neither smoke detectors nor fire alarms were working on that day.
All these shortcomings could have been remedied at minimal cost for a hotel that was not exactly cheap: it charged around 30,000 liras (€800) per night. The fact that the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning, in a location an hour’s drive from the nearest fire station, and in the middle of the school holiday season (with the hotel practically full, especially of students and families with children), added to all the glaring safety shortcomings to cause a catastrophe that took the lives of 78 people and forever marked the lives of dozens of families.
Many questions remain unanswered in the aftermath of the fire, while so far 19 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including the hotel’s current owner, Halit Ergül. But according to Turkish media reports, in his statements to the prosecutor’s office assigned to the case, Ergül has blamed the hotel staff entirely for the tragedy without taking any responsibility.
‘The fault lies with the kitchen staff’
For example, the owner of the hotel reportedly claimed that the supervision of the electrical equipment in the restaurant’s kitchen – where the fire originated – is the responsibility of the head chef alone: ‘The head chef was obliged to notify the technical staff if he noticed any irregularities,’ Ergül stated, also pointing to the four kitchen staff members in charge of preparing breakfast. ‘In the evening, four people are in charge of preparing breakfast in the kitchen of the Grand Kartal Hotel. The responsibility for the equipment there lies with them,’ he said.
Ergül went further and also accused the hotel’s electrician, saying that he was personally responsible for supervising the fire alarm systems, which survivors of the tragedy confirm did not work that night. In addition, he also also pointed at the private security personnel hired by the hotel, who was on duty when the fire broke out and who Ergül said should have immediately reported any emergency.
The owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel also mentioned during his statement to the prosecutor that the hotel establishment had an agreement with the company FQC Global Consulting – according to him authorised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism – to carry out regular assessments. However, the Turkish press reports that this private consulting firm just issues certifications on sustainability and environmental practices, not on fire safety.
‘Alarms were working’… Survivors deny it
Ergül also allegedly maintained to the prosecution that he never received any notification or warning from the relevant authorities that the fire escape – located contrary to regulations inside the building, and without adequate fire protection – did not comply with the law. ‘When we opened the hotel in 2007, we received a fire safety certificate from the municipality of Bolu,’ he said. As for the fire alarm not working that night, Ergül attributes this to damage caused by the fire itself, but denies that the smoke detectors did not work, as claimed by witnesses and survivors of the fire.
‘The hotel was built according to 2007 legislation. The Ministry of Tourism carries out inspections,’ said the hotel owner. However, the Turkish press also disputes the latter statement and recalls that the ministerial inspections – which are carried out by the competent municipalities – do not address fire safety in any case, but monitor areas and elements related to tourism services.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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