The devastating fire that erupted at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Turkey's Kartalkaya ski resort has tragically claimed at least 76 lives, marking one of the deadliest hotel disasters in the country's history. Survivors reported a lack of fire alarms and a delayed response from firefighters, raising serious concerns about fire safety protocols.
According to reports, the fire started at 3:27 AM in the restaurant area on the fourth floor. However, some guests had noticed smoke an hour earlier. Local authorities indicated that firefighters did not arrive for about 45 minutes after the blaze began. Guests reported sheer panic, with some attempting to escape by tying bedsheets together, while others resorted to jumping from upper floors.
Critics have emphasized that the hotel had previously been certified for fire safety, although local officials stated that no positive inspections had been conducted since 2007. Experts pointed out that in buildings equipped with functioning fire safety systems, alarms should trigger within seconds of a fire, directing guests to safety. Unfortunately, this did not happen at the hotel.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the alarm only activated after many guests had already fled the building. The hotel's management has expressed condolences and is cooperating with ongoing investigations, while nine individuals, including the hotel owner, have been detained.
This incident raises critical questions about the adequacy of fire safety measures and inspection processes. Local experts argue that proper fire safety regulations—including automatic sprinkler systems—should have been in place. With 238 guests present during the fire, the tragedy has sparked an outcry for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards in Turkey.
According to reports, the fire started at 3:27 AM in the restaurant area on the fourth floor. However, some guests had noticed smoke an hour earlier. Local authorities indicated that firefighters did not arrive for about 45 minutes after the blaze began. Guests reported sheer panic, with some attempting to escape by tying bedsheets together, while others resorted to jumping from upper floors.
Critics have emphasized that the hotel had previously been certified for fire safety, although local officials stated that no positive inspections had been conducted since 2007. Experts pointed out that in buildings equipped with functioning fire safety systems, alarms should trigger within seconds of a fire, directing guests to safety. Unfortunately, this did not happen at the hotel.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the alarm only activated after many guests had already fled the building. The hotel's management has expressed condolences and is cooperating with ongoing investigations, while nine individuals, including the hotel owner, have been detained.
This incident raises critical questions about the adequacy of fire safety measures and inspection processes. Local experts argue that proper fire safety regulations—including automatic sprinkler systems—should have been in place. With 238 guests present during the fire, the tragedy has sparked an outcry for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards in Turkey.
