Hotel Cook in Kartalkaya Reveals: Fire Exit Door was the Gateway – Latest News from Turkey
Investigation into the tragic fire disaster at Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Center continues, with 78 people losing their lives at the Grand Kartal Hotel on January 21st. One of the survivors, Mustafa Free, shared his harrowing experience of that fateful night.
Mustafa Free, a 26-year-old cook who has been working at the Grand Kartal Hotel for 3 years during the winter season, recounted the terrifying events of the fire. “Everywhere was smoke when we left,” he recalled. On the night of the fire, Free and his friends woke up to the sound of shouting around 02:45-03:00. With panic setting in, they struggled to find a way out amidst the smoke. Free described how some people resorted to tying sheets together and descending from the windows in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
After being outside for about half an hour to 40 minutes, Free witnessed the hotel engulfed in flames, with people seeking help from the windows of their rooms. He also emphasized the lack of fire precautions in the hotel, including non-functioning fire detectors and inadequate fire escape measures.
Expressing his regret at not being able to save more lives, Free stated that he never wants to return to Kartalkaya due to the traumatic memories of that night. “You can live such a thing? Everyone put their own life. Everyone jumped in hope. You could not save as much as you can,” he lamented.
As the investigation into the fire disaster continues, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety measures and proper precautions in all establishments to prevent such tragic events from reoccurring.
