Türkiye: anger and mourning after the death of 76 vacationers in a high-altitude hotel

Tuesday 21st January 2025 10:26 PM

“I saw a father with his baby in his arms asking for pillows to throw his son, fortunately he waited for help who saved them. But on the top floor, two women threw themselves into the void before my eyes, they were killed instantly,” he told IHA in shock.

“People were calling for help, asking for blankets so they could get out through the windows,” said Baris Salgur, an employee at a nearby hotel.

“We brought them what we found, ropes, pillows, and even a sofa… When the flames approached them, some threw themselves into the void.”

According to private television channel NTV, at least three people died jumping out of windows.

“The final searches will be carried out tomorrow (Wednesday) morning by teams from Afad” the Turkish relief agency, assured Minister Yerlikaya, pointing out the night which hampers the work, shortly after 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT).

– compliance –

He promised that “all measures will be taken if the investigation shows that there was negligence or that mistakes were made.”

But anger has taken over the media and social networks, with everyone questioning, once again after such tragedies, the security measures and especially the compliance of the establishment.

The Minister of Tourism, Bakan Ersoy, assured on X that the hotel had been inspected and certified by the firefighters in 2021 and 2024.

But several witnesses denounced the absence of an alert and evacuation system.

“No alarm went off, no smoke detector or emergency staircase even though there was smoke up to the tenth floor,” said a crying fifty-year-old on television, who had been staying with family since Sunday in the establishment.

Images taken by drone demonstrate the devastation in the roof and upper floors of the hotel, installed at the top of a cliff to have a panoramic view, which complicated the intervention of the 428 firefighters mobilized, said the Minister of the Interior, who came on site with several members of the government.

Four people were arrested on Tuesday, including the hotel owner, and taken into police custody, announced Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.

An investigation was entrusted to “six prosecutors”, supported by a committee of experts, he said.

Tuesday evening, families were gathered in front of Bolu hospital, the morgue of which received the bodies of the victims and nineteen injured people, including one in serious condition.

Before his AKP party, meeting in congress, Mr. Erdogan also assured that “everything will be done to shed light on all aspects of the tragedy and to hold those responsible to account.”

Many countries, including Germany, neighboring Greece, Ukraine, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, European Union officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin have sent their condolences and expressed solidarity after the tragedy.

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