Turkey Arrests 15 Over Deadly Ski Resort Fire That Killed 78
Turkish authorities have arrested 15 people as part of an investigation into the devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Bolu mountains that claimed 78 lives and injured dozens earlier this week, state media reported Sunday.
The fire, which erupted on the restaurant floor of the 12-story Kartalkaya ski resort building at around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, spread rapidly, forcing panicked guests to jump from windows in the middle of the night. The hotel, which had 238 registered guests at the time, has been criticized for allegedly lacking basic fire safety measures.
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The tragedy has prompted widespread calls for accountability and reform. Independent experts have pointed to safety lapses at the hotel, including insufficient fire prevention systems. President Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Saturday that the judiciary would punish all responsible parties, while the hotel’s management pledged full cooperation with investigators.
According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the hotel’s owner, manager, and director are among the 15 people arrested. Judicial proceedings are also underway for the deputy mayor of Bolu province and the local fire department chief, while six individuals have been released under specific conditions.
