Fire at Turkish Ski Resort Hotel Kills 78, Exposing Safety Failures

Authorities and experts highlight negligence and regulatory gaps as investigations continue into the Grand Kartal Hotel blaze.

A fire at the 12-story Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, Turkey, killed 78 people and injured over 50, with survivors reporting non-functional fire alarms, no sprinklers, and inaccessible fire escapes.
The hotel's management and local authorities are under scrutiny, with 11 individuals, including the hotel owner and Bolu's deputy mayor, detained as part of the investigation.
Experts and officials revealed that the hotel failed to meet fire safety standards, including insufficient inspections and wooden cladding that accelerated the fire's spread.
Disputes have arisen between the national government and opposition-run Bolu municipality over jurisdiction and responsibility for fire safety enforcement.
Calls for stricter safety regulations and reforms have intensified, as experts point to systemic issues in Turkey's building safety oversight.