Hotel tragedy in Kartalkaya: 79 dead in fire safety lapse
In a hotel fire in Turkey, 79 people lost their lives. The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen of the hotel's restaurant. According to Turkish media, many individuals suffered carbon monoxide poisoning when attempting to escape via the emergency stairways.
A tragic fire occurred at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Turkey, resulting in the deaths of 79 people. The fire broke out in the kitchen of the hotel's restaurant on the fourth floor and rapidly spread throughout the building. As reported by the Polish Press Agency, the absence of adequate fire safety measures, such as a sprinkler system, contributed to the spread of the fire.
Investigators found that the emergency stairways in the building acted like a chimney, carrying smoke to higher floors. Survivors state that escape attempts via the emergency exits were hindered by smoke. It appears some victims succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Current regulations mandate that emergency exits should be secured with doors on each floor, a measure not implemented in this instance.
At the time of the fire, there were 234 guests staying at the hotel. Witnesses recount dramatic scenes as people attempted to flee, some jumping out of windows while others slid down makeshift ropes fashioned from bed sheets. Thirty fire engines and 28 ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The fire brigade, which arrived an hour after the alert, rescued over 50 people from windows using a fire engine equipped with a ladder. One individual was saved with the help of a trampoline.
Political repercussions
The tragedy has ignited political disputes in Turkey. The ruling party and local opposition authorities are blaming each other for negligence, which may have contributed to the disaster. Preliminary findings suggest that the lack of proper fire safety measures in the hotel could have exacerbated the tragic outcomes of the fire. As a consequence of the tragedy, four people have been arrested, including the hotel owner. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey declared a national mourning period and announced severe punishments for those found responsible.
The Kartalkaya resort, located about 300 kilometres east of Istanbul, is a renowned winter holiday destination in Turkey. During the holiday season, the resorts are bustling with guests, which further amplified the scale of the tragedy. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and authorities continue to investigate the incident.
