30.09.2025 15:56
In a boutique hotel located in the Kaleiçi area of Antalya, a fire broke out, resulting in the deaths of two tourists due to the lack of an emergency exit, fire escape, and alarm system. Legal proceedings have been initiated regarding the cause of the fire and those responsible.
In Antalya's historic Kaleiçi, a report by an expert regarding the boutique hotel fire that occurred two years ago, resulting in the deaths of 2 people and injuries to 12 others, noted that the wooden staircase connecting the floors was completely burned, and due to the lack of an emergency exit, 2 tourists staying on the 2nd floor lost their lives.
A fire broke out at the three-story boutique hotel located on Hesapçı Street in the Barbaros neighborhood of Muratpaşa district at around 03:30 on July 22, 2023. Firefighters, police, and medical teams were dispatched to the scene following the report. The fire was extinguished after approximately 1.5 hours of work by the firefighting teams. Lebanese citizens Vivianne Saad (53) and Dory Mhanna (52) lost their lives in the fire, and 12 people were injured, 2 of whom were in serious condition. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals by medical teams.
UP TO 15 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT REQUESTED
The indictment prepared regarding the incident was accepted by the Antalya 3rd High Criminal Court. In the indictment, it was requested that the defendants, who are not in custody, including hotel owner Mehmet A., responsible manager Ali A., and occupational safety expert Hasan A., be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for the crime of 'causing death and injury by negligence.'
FLOOR CONNECTION CUT OFF WHEN THE WOODEN STAIRCASE BURNED
The expert report included in the indictment stated that the staircase connecting the first and second floors was made of wood and was burned to the point of being unusable, and due to the lack of any other emergency exit, the connection between the areas on the 2nd and 3rd floors and the first floor was cut off. As a result, it was recorded that Dory Mhanna and Vivianne Saad, who were staying in room 615 on the 2nd floor, which did not have an exterior window, could not evacuate and lost their lives in the bathroom area.
NO FIRE ESCAPE AND FIRE ALARM
The report also stated that the fire, which was determined to have started due to a short circuit in the air conditioning of room 613 on the first floor, spread to the upper floors, and that the couple's room blocked the escape routes. It was noted that the wooden staircase connecting the ground floor to the upper floor was supported by concrete and stone structures, allowing it to be used during and after the fire. However, the staircases connecting the first floor to the second floor and the second floor to the attic burned quickly due to being made solely of wood and varnish, and it was recorded that there was no fire escape or fire alarm in the hotel.
The trial of the three defendants who are not in custody will continue in the coming days.