President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pledged accountability for the tragic fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu, which claimed the lives of 78 people. Addressing his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Jan. 29, Erdoğan assured the public that all responsible parties would face justice.
Government’s Response and Investigation
“We will never hesitate to do whatever is necessary to ensure that everyone who has responsibility, shortcomings, and negligence is held accountable,” Erdoğan stated, emphasizing that the investigation would leave no room for doubt.
Authorities confirmed that the fire, which broke out in the hotel’s kitchen on Jan. 21, spread rapidly, leaving a devastating toll. Among the deceased were 36 children, as families had gathered at the ski resort during Türkiye’s school holiday.
So far, 28 individuals have been detained, with 19 still in custody. An expert committee is conducting a thorough review, and their findings will be submitted to the judiciary.
Erdoğan Condemns Negligence and Opposition’s Response
“We absolutely cannot tolerate greedy criminals disregarding the lives of our citizens,” Erdoğan declared. “No one can gamble with the lives of our citizens. No one can sacrifice innocent children to their ambitions. We will have no pity on anyone.”
The president also criticized the opposition for what he described as political exploitation of the tragedy. “When will you share the grief of this nation?” he asked. “When will you give up politicizing every issue and the politics of exploitation?”
Allegations of Negligence Emerge
In a shocking revelation, hotel employee Tuni Burhan alleged that hotel owner Halit Ergül instructed managers to wake up staff but not to alert guests as the fire spread.
“This is how things were going at this hotel anyway,” Burhan told CNN Türk. “When there is a problem, the staff handles it among themselves and doesn’t notify anyone.”
As the investigation unfolds, Erdoğan reaffirmed that Turkish courts, not social media, would determine accountability. “No one can and will be able to escape responsibility with empty rhetoric,” he said.