23.01.2025 15:21
The Mayor of Bolu, Tanju Özcan, who, like the Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, is avoiding taking responsibility for the fire in Kartalkaya that claimed the lives of 78 people, is busy trying to clear his name by going from channel to channel even before the funerals have taken place.
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The fire disaster at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya resulted in the death of 78 people and injuries to 51 others, while discussions of responsibility began among officials after the fire. Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan stated that the authority for fire safety inspections belongs to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, expressing that the municipality has no responsibility.
TANJU ÖZCAN IS TRYING TO EXONERATE HIMSELF While discussions of authority continue regarding the tragedy that claimed the lives of 78 citizens, Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan has drawn significant public backlash for trying to exonerate himself by shifting the blame to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, even before the funerals were held, by appearing on various channels (CNN Türk, Halk TV, TGRT Haber...).
This document shows that a fire safety certificate was issued for the café section of the hotel just 19 days ago. CERTIFICATE ISSUED 19 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE It has emerged that the Bolu Municipality, led by Tanju Özcan, issued a fire safety certificate for the café of the Grand Kartal Hotel just 19 days before the fire, despite Özcan stating in every broadcast he appeared on that he bore no responsibility for the hotel fire.
THE SIGNATURE ON THE DOCUMENT BELONGS TO HIS COUSIN Moreover, the signature at the bottom of the document belongs to Sedat Gülener, the nephew of Tanju Özcan, who is also the head of the Fire Department. Sedat Gülener was appointed as the Bolu Fire Chief by Tanju Özcan.
HE HAD SAID "VERY HARDWORKING, SMART, PRACTICAL" Regarding his cousin Gülener's appointment as deputy mayor, Tanju Özcan previously stated, "Sedat Gülener is my uncle's son. This is true; the whole of Bolu knows this. His appointment has nothing to do with being my uncle's son. It is related to him being very hardworking, practical, and smart. In fact, no one, including AK Party members in Bolu, has objected to this. They believe he deserves it and that it was the right decision."
QUESTIONS AWAITING ANSWERS 1. WHO ISSUED THE LICENSE? The licensing process of the hotel where the fire occurred is one of the biggest topics of debate. Minister of Culture and Tourism Nuri Ersoy stated that the licenses are issued by the ministry, while Bolu Metropolitan Mayor Tanju Özcan emphasizes that the responsibility lies with the ministry. These mutual accusations highlight the uncertainty in the distribution of authority.
2. WERE THE INSPECTIONS SUFFICIENT? Regardless of who issued the license, how fire safety inspections were conducted is a critical question. If the hotel falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism, the frequency and effectiveness of the inspections should be questioned. If the municipality is responsible, the reasons for the inadequacy of fire safety checks should be investigated.
3. WHY DID THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPOND LATE? The mountainous structure of Kartalkaya and winter conditions may have complicated the response to the fire. However, the prolonged arrival of the fire department to the area and whether their intervention capacity was sufficient is another issue that needs clarification from the authorities.
4. AUTHORITY CONFUSION AND GAPS IN LEGISLATION This disaster reveals a significant legislative gap in Turkey regarding the licensing and inspection of tourism facilities. If hotels' licenses are issued by the Ministry of Tourism, what is the extent of the municipalities' authority? If municipalities are empowered, why were the inspections insufficient? These questions must be clarified to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
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