Trial Begins for 32 Individuals Over Deadly Luxury Ski Resort Fire in Türkiye

On July 7, a trial commenced in Türkiye for 32 individuals linked to a catastrophic fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, a luxury ski resort where 78 individuals lost their lives in January. Tragically, the blaze, which engulfed the hotel during the early hours of January 21, claimed the lives of entire families, including the lives of 36 children among the deceased.

The disaster has raised numerous questions regarding the hotel’s adherence to fire safety regulations, with victims' families asserting that negligence played a significant role in the tragic loss of life. The inferno injured more than 130 people and resulted in the complete destruction of the 12-storey building.

Thirteen of the accused individuals, which comprise senior hotel officials, fire department personnel, and local city council members, face severe penalties, potentially up to 1,998 years in prison on multiple counts, including the grave charge of "manslaughter with possible intent." Survivors and fire safety experts have pointed out that the fire alarm system at the hotel failed to function during the crisis.

The indictment includes key figures like the hotel's owner, management staff, and local officials, including the deputy mayor of Bolu and several fire department representatives. Outside the Bolu High School, where the trial is being held, family members of the victims gathered to express their grief and allegations regarding numerous safety violations and potential cover-ups.

The families accuse hotel management of negligence, alleging that they prioritized saving their vehicles over alerting guests as the smoke filled the building. They also highlighted a report from just a month before the disaster that flagged serious deficiencies in fire safety, which the hotel owners dismissed due to cost concerns.

Furthermore, they have claimed that authorities deliberately overlooked these safety issues, and that evidence may have been tampered with, including the deletion of crucial video footage. During the fire incident, a finger-pointing war ensued between the tourism ministry and the Bolu city council, each blaming the other for the calamity.

Due to the high volume of defendants and plaintiffs, with over 210 civil parties involved, the Bolu High Criminal Court has convened in the sports hall of a local high school. Observing the proceedings, the leader of the main opposition party, CHP, is also expected to attend. The trial is projected to span a duration of two weeks.