Hotel owner and general manager arrested in connection with Bolu hotel fire
A fire broke out at a hotel in Türkiye's Kartalkaya Ski Resort, a prominent tourist destination, leaving 76 dead and 51 injured, in Bolu, Türkiye, on Jan. 21, 2025. (AA Photo)
Halit Ergul, the owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel, and Emir Aras, the hotel’s general manager, have been arrested in connection with the tragic fire that claimed 78 lives at the Kartalkaya Ski Resort in Bolu. The fire, which broke out early Tuesday, exposed serious negligence, including a failure in the alarm system, an unusable fire escape ladder, and delayed emergency response efforts.
After their interrogation at the prosecutor’s office, a total of eight suspects, including Ergul, his son-in-law Aras, and hotel manager Zeki Yilmaz, were transferred to court with a request for arrest. Both Ergul and Aras were subsequently arrested and sent to prison.
The number of detentions rose to 14, with new warrants issued for two additional individuals involved in the investigation.
Experts appointed to determine cause of fire
Authorities have also enlisted experts from Istanbul Technical University’s Disaster Management Institute, specializing in fire protection, to assist in determining the cause of the blaze. Their involvement comes after new findings regarding the fire’s origin.
The fire reportedly started in the hotel’s restaurant area and rapidly spread throughout the building, despite a 10-hour firefighting operation to control the flames. A total of 78 people were killed.
The tragedy has sparked an extensive investigation, with a team of prosecutors and experts working to identify those responsible for the disaster.
The Kartalkaya is one of Türkiye’s premier winter destinations, drawing thousands of tourists each season. Located in Bolu, approximately 295 kilometers (183 miles) east of Istanbul, the resort’s reputation has been deeply shaken by the incident.
