President Erdogan in tears at funeral for Bolu fire victims

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was seen in tears on Wednesday during the funeral for victims of the Bolu hotel fire, which claimed 76 lives at the Kartalkaya ski resort. Standing alongside grieving families, Erdogan offered condolences and reiterated his commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation into the tragedy.

Erdogan attended the funeral of eight members of a single family who perished in the Kartalkaya hotel fire, offering condolences to former Justice and Development Party (AK) Party Bolu Deputy Mehmet Guner, who lost his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren in the tragedy.

The funeral ceremony took place at the Kalici Konutlar Central Mosque, where Erdogan was accompanied by his wife Emine and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus.

During his brief address, Erdogan spoke of his long-standing friendship with Mehmet Guner from their time together in Parliament, expressing deep sorrow over the loss. “Our hearts are burning, our souls are burning, and right now we are to fulfill this duty,” Erdogan said, praying for the victims to be united in the eternal realm.

The victims—Bilal Gultekin, Zehra Sena Gultekin, Rumeysa Gultekin, Yusuf Sinanettin Gultekin, Muhammet Selim Gultekin, Bekir Sadik Gultekin, Enes Gultekin and Sumeyye Guner—were laid to rest at the Kilicarslan Cemetery amid tears and prayers.

Multiple cabinet ministers attended the ceremony, including Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu and Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, among other high-ranking government officials.

Turkish ski paradise in blaze as hotel fire claims 76 lives

A catastrophic fire engulfed a hotel at the Kartalkaya ski resort in northern Türkiye early Tuesday, killing 76 people and injuring 51 others in one of the country’s deadliest hotel disasters.

The blaze, which began in the restaurant area around 12:27 a.m. local time, rapidly spread through the 12-story wooden structure as guests attempted desperate escapes, some fashioning rope from bed sheets.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that nine people have been detained in connection with the fire, while authorities have identified 52 of the deceased. Among the missing is prominent Sozcu columnist Nedim Turkmen.

Emergency response teams, including firefighters and medical personnel supported by helicopters, battled the flames for over 10 hours as they evacuated approximately 230 guests from the popular winter destination, located 295 kilometers (183.3 miles) east of Istanbul.

President Erdogan assured a thorough investigation is underway, with six prosecutors and a five-member expert committee assigned to determine the cause.

The incident has drawn international condolences, including from Pakistan’s Prime Minister and EU officials, while Turkish authorities, including multiple cabinet ministers, have visited the site to oversee response efforts.

Deadly negligence exposed at Turkish ski resort disaster

The Grand Kartal Hotel’s deadly fire exposed multiple critical safety failures that contributed to the high death toll.

Witness accounts revealed non-functional fire alarms, smoke detectors and sensors, while the building lacked an operational sprinkler system despite claims of installation in 2008.

The hotel’s extensive wooden cladding, both interior and exterior, accelerated the fire’s spread and poorly marked fire exits hampered evacuation efforts.

Administrative oversight appears fragmented, with conflicting claims of responsibility between local and national authorities.

Bolu Mayor Tanju Ozcan insisted the hotel fell under the Ministry of Tourism jurisdiction, not municipal authority, yet records show the municipality issued a fire safety certificate for the restaurant just weeks before the disaster on Dec. 24, 2024.

Further contradicting the mayor’s statement, Bolu Municipality’s 2023 annual report confirmed they conducted inspections of local accommodation facilities.

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated the hotel passed inspections in 2021 and 2024, holding valid fire safety certifications.

However, the investigation revealed the building had only one vehicle entry point, which severely restricted emergency response access. Nine individuals, including hotel owner Halit Ergul, have been detained as investigators examine potential safety violations, with six prosecutors and a five-member expert committee leading the inquiry.