A Waitress Dies Following Hotel Fire in Turkey, Reviving Safety Concerns

The tragic death of a waitress who fell from a flaming hotel in Turkey has heightened national fears regarding inadequate safety protocols. Sevval Sahin, the 25-year-old victim, was in critical condition after leaping from the 12-story Grand Kartal hotel, which caught fire earlier in the week. Authorities have updated the death toll from this calamity to 78, indicating that dozens more sustained injuries during the event.

In response to the catastrophe, the Turkish government has initiated a thorough inquiry by appointing six prosecutors to investigate the cause of the fire. Eleven individuals have been detained for interrogation, including notable figures such as the hotel proprietor, the deputy mayor of Bolu, and the acting chief of the fire department. Political blame-shifting has ensued between the government and the municipality, as both parties attempt to deflect responsibility for the incident.

The fire originated in the restaurant area on the fourth floor, rapidly engulfing the upper levels of the wooden hotel. In a desperate act for survival, both guests and employees resorted to jumping from windows or using makeshift ropes made of sheets to escape. Reports following the fire suggest troubling deficiencies in the hotel's safety measures, including non-functional fire alarms, absent sprinklers, and difficulty locating emergency exits.

Despite earlier inspections in 2014 and 2021 confirming the hotel held a valid fire safety certificate, scrutiny has arisen regarding the effectiveness of those evaluations. Witnesses also noted that firefighters took a significant amount of time—approximately 45 minutes—to respond to the scene. As the fire raged, Sahin made a phone call to her father from a 12th-floor window, seeking guidance before ultimately deciding to jump, driven by her inability to bear the smoke and flames.