Türkiye ski resort fire: Arrest toll reaches 18

Two more officials have been arrested in Türkiye in connection with the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, located in the ski resort town of Bolu.

The individuals detained are Sedat Gülener, the Deputy Mayor of the city, and Kenan Coşkun, the Deputy Director of the Fire Department, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

These latest arrests bring the total number of individuals detained in relation to the incident to 18.

Note that, on January 21, 2025, a catastrophic fire engulfed the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya ski resort, Bolu Province, Türkiye, resulting in 79 fatalities and 51 injuries. The fire originated in the fourth-floor kitchen and restaurant area, spreading rapidly through the 12-story structure due to its wooden exterior cladding. The hotel, nearly at full capacity with 238 guests, was hosting families during school holidays.

Owner Halit Ergül blamed staff negligence, particularly the hotel’s head chef, consultants, electricians, and security personnel, for a gas explosion that triggered the disaster. More than a dozen, including Ergül and the hotel’s general manager, have been arrested and face potential sentences of up to 15 years.

Despite emergency responders arriving within 40-45 minutes, the fire's intensity left many trapped, with some attempting to escape by jumping out of windows. Türkiye declared January 22 a national day of mourning, reflecting the widespread grief over the tragedy.

By Aghakazim Guliyev