Türkiye: Prosecutor seeks 1,998-year sentence for each of 13 defendants in deadly hotel fire

The Turkish prosecutor's office has requested a prison sentence of 1,998 years for each of the 13 defendants in the case of the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, located in Bolu Province.

The length of the sentence is the result of cumulative charges, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Among the 13 defendants are the hotel’s owners and management, the deputy mayor of Bolu, the local fire chief, and other officials. For another 19 individuals involved in the case, including hotel kitchen staff, the prosecution is seeking 22.5 years of imprisonment.

On January 21, 2025, a devastating fire engulfed the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort, Bolu Province, Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of at least 78 people and injuries to 51 others. The blaze began in the hotel's fourth-floor kitchen and restaurant area and rapidly spread through the 12-story building, exacerbated by its wooden exterior cladding. The hotel was nearly full, hosting approximately 238 guests, including many families with children on school vacations. Some individuals attempted to escape by jumping out of windows in desperation.

The rapid spread of the fire was exacerbated by the building's wooden structure and the absence of adequate fire safety measures, such as smoke detectors, sprinklers, and functioning emergency exits.

Rescue efforts were hindered by freezing weather conditions and the hotel's remote location, which delayed the arrival of firefighters by over an hour. Many victims died from suffocation, and some guests were forced to jump from windows to escape the flames.

In response to the tragedy, Turkish authorities have arrested multiple individuals, including the hotel's owner, management, and local officials, as part of an ongoing investigation into the fire.

Türkiye declared 22 January a national day of mourning, honouring the victims of this devastating event.

By Khagan Isayev