Türkiye sets up commission to investigate deadly fire at Kartalkaya resort

The Turkish Parliament has decided to create a special commission to investigate the circumstances of the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort.

The final report on the results of the commission's investigation is planned to be prepared within three months. It includes 22 MPs, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

The speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Numan Kurtulmuş, told journalists earlier that he hopes that the conclusions of the MPs will help clarify the causes of the tragedy and make a significant contribution to the investigation into the fire, which is being conducted by the prosecutor's office.

He also expressed hope that all those responsible for the emergency will be brought to justice.

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 79 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.

According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, emergency services arrived at the scene within 40-45 minutes, but the fire proved difficult to contain.

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

By Khagan Isayev