Grand Kartal Hotel fire in Türkiye: Staff claims hotel manager downplayed alarm

New testimonies regarding the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu’s Kartalkaya Ski Center continue to surface, revealing alarming details about the events leading up to and during the fire. Among those speaking out is hotel staff member Tuni Urhan, who provided a shocking account of the hotel manager’s response during the fire.

According to the daily Bolu Gundem, Urhan claimed that after being alerted about the fire, hotel manager Zeki Yilmaz instructed staff to “turn off the fire alarms and don’t make noise, just wake up the staff.”

According to Urhan, Yilmaz’s instructions were clear: “Don’t wake anyone up, turn off the fire alarms, and only wake the staff. Half of the staff should go to the kitchen, the other half should move customer cars from the parking lot.”

Urhan further stated that the fire alarms were often turned off due to customers smoking in the rooms, a dangerous practice that left the hotel without proper fire safety measures, such as smoke detectors.

Hotel manager’s confession: Attempt to warn guests

Zeki Yilmaz, who was arrested as part of the investigation, gave a statement to the prosecutor’s office, revealing his actions during the fire. Yilmaz explained that he had been staying on the ninth floor when noise in the corridor. woke him up. Upon receiving a call from the reception informing him of the fire on the fourth floor, he immediately tried to reach the affected area.

“I didn’t see the fire directly, but there was smoke as I left my room on the ninth floor. I went down to the fourth floor, tried to reach the restaurant area, but couldn’t open the doors. I went through the rooms, knocking on doors and shouting to warn people,” Yilmaz said.

He continued by describing his efforts to evacuate guests from various floors, despite being hindered by thick smoke. “I eventually made my way out of the hotel.”

Yilmaz also clarified his role at the hotel, stating that he had been working as an unofficial hotel manager since 1988, although his official title was reception staff. He also pointed out that regular safety inspections by various government bodies, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, had not found major faults, though some issues such as the lack of disabled rooms and unpleasant odors from the boiler room were noted.

General manager’s statement: ‘I couldn’t think clearly’

Meanwhile, General Manager Emir Aras, who is also the son-in-law of hotel owner Halit Ergul, gave his own account of the fire. In his statement, Aras explained that he was on the seventh floor when he first received the news about the fire. “I tried to hit the alarm buttons, but the fire was so intense, I couldn’t think clearly,” Aras said.

Aras has faced public scrutiny for his actions during the fire, as well as for his management of safety measures at the hotel. However, he denied any wrongdoing, stating that he was deeply saddened by the tragedy.

Investigation and fire safety concerns

The investigation into the fire has raised significant concerns about the hotel’s fire safety measures. Both Yilmaz and Aras discussed the lack of a sprinkler system at the hotel, which was a critical gap in fire safety protocols. While the hotel had smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and hoses, these systems were reportedly not sufficient in preventing or containing the blaze.

Furthermore, it was revealed that there had been no fire drills specifically for the Grand Kartal Hotel staff, even though some employees had participated in drills at the Gazelle Hotel, another property managed by the same company. Yilmaz admitted that although department heads were given responsibilities in the event of an emergency, a separate fire drill for the Grand Kartal Hotel was never conducted.

The lack of proper preparation and preventive measures raises serious questions about the hotel’s commitment to ensuring the safety of both guests and staff. In response to these concerns, Aras stated that regular inspections by authorities had not identified any major issues, but admitted that the fire drill situation was a serious oversight.

Authorities continue investigation

As the investigation continues, questions about the adequacy of fire safety protocols at the Grand Kartal Hotel persist. Experts argue that the absence of fire drills, combined with a lack of proper fire alarms and sprinklers, highlights a critical failure in ensuring the safety of the hotel’s guests.

The fire has raised broader concerns about the safety standards in many hotels across Türkiye, especially in popular tourist destinations like Kartalkaya. As authorities dig deeper into the events surrounding the fire, it is expected that more revelations will come to light.