At least 76 people have died in a devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey, prompting scrutiny over the establishment's fire safety measures. Survivors reported alarm failures, while experts questioned the hotel's fire defense capabilities, leading to an ongoing investigation that has seen nine arrests.
Investigation Launched into Deadly Hotel Fire at Turkish Ski Resort
Investigation Launched into Deadly Hotel Fire at Turkish Ski Resort
The tragic fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel raises serious concerns about fire safety protocols as authorities detain nine individuals amidst a growing inquiry.
The Grand Kartal Hotel at Turkey's Kartalkaya ski resort experienced a catastrophic fire early Monday morning, resulting in the loss of at least 76 lives. This incident is being described as one of the deadliest hotel fires in Turkish history, and it has raised pressing questions regarding the hotel's fire safety protocols. Guests recounted that alarms failed to sound, and firefighters were not on the scene for nearly an hour after the blaze reportedly started at approximately 03:27 (00:27 GMT) on the fourth floor's restaurant area. Some survivors claimed to have detected smoke as much as an hour prior to the fire's official start.
Turkey's Interior Minister stated that the hotel possessed a fire competence certificate issued by the fire department; however, local mayor Tanju Ozcan contends that no positive report has been issued since 2007. Witnesses noted alarming discrepancies in the hotel’s emergency protocols. For instance, one guest, Atakan Yelkovan, detailed how he and his wife had to flee without the alarm sounding, while the fire spread rapidly and guests on upper floors resorted to desperate measures, including jumping to escape the flames.
The Turkish Fire Protection and Education Foundation, through its president Kazim Beceren, indicated that the hotel should have had operational fire detectors to react within seconds and alert appropriate personnel. "In a properly managed establishment, there should be someone monitoring the fire control dashboard around the clock," Beceren explained. Tragic narratives from survivors, such as Eylem Senturk’s account of her husband jumping off the hotel porch amidst smoke, further highlight the seemingly inadequate safety measures in place.
Further complicating matters is the fact that while fire safety measures were expected, including efficient escape routes, reports suggest they were not adequately implemented. Erol Percin from the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects expressed his concern about the building's fire-resistant exterior and the lack of firefighting facilities. With 238 guests present at the time of the incident, it raises questions about the overall preparedness for emergency situations within large structures.
The ongoing investigation has resulted in nine detentions, including that of the hotel owner, while hotel management has issued statements expressing their condolences and commitment to cooperating with authorities.
Authorities are now tasked with scrutinizing both the hotel's infrastructural integrity and the efficacy of fire safety inspections it had undergone, especially given claims made by the mayor regarding a lack of inspections since 2007. The incident has sparked discussions on stricter regulations for older buildings and necessities for compliance with contemporary fire safety standards, particularly for accommodations catering to large groups.
