28.01.2025 17:03
Zeki Yılmaz, the manager of Grand Kartal Hotel, who was arrested in connection with the fire at Kartalkaya Ski Resort that claimed the lives of 78 people, claimed that he is officially listed as reception staff at his workplace and that he does not have full authority over management.
The manager of Grand Kartal Hotel, Zeki Yılmaz, who was arrested in connection with the fire at Kartalkaya Ski Resort that claimed the lives of 78 people, claimed that he is listed as reception staff in official records at his workplace and that he does not have full authority over the management.
HOTEL MANAGER WAS LISTED AS RECEPTION STAFF ON PAPER
Yılmaz, who was arrested as part of the investigation conducted by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the fire that broke out at Grand Kartal Hotel on January 21, stated in his testimony to the prosecutor's office that he served as an "unofficial hotel manager," that he had no signing authority or responsibility, and that he appeared as reception staff in official records.
HE DESCRIBED THE MOMENT OF THE FIRE
Yılmaz stated that he has been working at Kartal Hotel and Grand Kartal Hotel every winter season since 1988, and shared the following information about the initial moments of the incident, explaining that he was staying in room 9050 on the 9th floor of Grand Kartal Hotel during the fire: "I woke up upon hearing a noise from the corridor. At the same time, they called my mobile phone from the reception. They informed me that there was a fire on the fourth floor of the hotel. I quickly left the room and went down to the fourth floor using the fire escape. When I reached the fourth floor, I tried to go down to the restaurant area via the fire escape, but I couldn't open the doors, so I moved to the corridor used by the guests. I wanted to pass through here to get to the restaurant area.
"I TRIED TO WARN PEOPLE BY SHOUTING"
Due to the heavy smoke and not being able to see anyone inside, I wanted to go up to the reception area on the fifth floor. I tried to go up the stairs twice, but I couldn't due to the smoke. Later, I went down the stairs to the third floor. I directed a group of people I saw on this floor to exit from the ski room on the first floor. Then, I went around the rooms, knocked on doors, and tried to warn people by shouting. After that, I left the hotel."
Zeki Yılmaz stated that all security and other precautions related to the hotel were monitored by the hotel owner Halit Ergül's son-in-law Emir Aras, and that he assisted him in all the processes he monitored, adding that Ergül was also aware of these inspections and the measures taken.
"NO QUALITATIVE DEFICIENCIES WERE FOUND IN THE INSPECTION"
Yılmaz made the following claims in his statement: "The Ministry of Tourism, the Provincial Special Administration, and the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture come to conduct inspections related to their fields at the hotel. The last inspection was conducted by the Ministry of Tourism a few days after the season opened in December 2024. No qualitative deficiencies were found in this inspection. The absence of a disabled room, the presence of carpet in the laundry room, and the smell coming from the boiler room were noted as deficiencies. Other than that, I do not remember any deficiencies. I do not remember whether a fire drill was conducted at Grand Kartal Hotel. As far as I remember, no drill was conducted at Grand Kartal Hotel, but it was conducted at Gazelle Hotel."
Yılmaz noted that some of the staff at the two hotels consisted of the same people, and that they were considered to have participated in the drill, but emphasized that no separate drill was conducted for those working only at Grand Kartal Hotel. He stated that different tasks and assistants were assigned to the unit department heads for fire and earthquake disasters at Grand Kartal Hotel, recalling that the number of heads was 7 or 8.
"THERE WAS NO SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THE HOTEL"
Yılmaz mentioned that the security personnel at Grand Kartal Hotel had additional duties during the fire, and that among the chiefs and assistants assigned during the disaster, there were also security personnel. He stated, "The smoke detectors, fire escapes, fire extinguishers on the floors, and fire hoses on the floors were inspected by the Ministry of Tourism during the last inspection. No issues were found in these matters during this last inspection. There was no sprinkler system in the hotel."
"THE DETECTORS WERE WORKING DURING THE FIRE"
Yılmaz stated that the technical staff was responsible for the smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and fire hoses, and continued: "I do not know if there was anything in the fire escapes that would prevent escape during the disaster. The routine checks of these materials were carried out by the technical staff, Mr. Hüseyin. These inspections were also conducted at the beginning of this season. Additionally, the fire detectors were working during the fire that occurred. I occasionally conducted these inspections with the technical staff."
Yılmaz also commented on the restaurant area on the 4th floor, which is considered the point of origin of the fire: "This area belongs to the kitchen and the chefs working in the kitchen. There are tools used for heating and cooking in this area known as the show area. The plugs of these tools should not normally be plugged in. They should be plugged in when they are to be used. I do not know who the head chef assigned for this area on the day of the incident. That is all I have to say. I do not know if I had any fault regarding the precautions that should have been taken at the Grand Kartal Hotel during the fire incident."
Yılmaz stated that the head chef R. B. was responsible for the 27-28 people working in the kitchen, and mentioned that the kitchen staff worked in shifts, with the night workers being bakers and those preparing breakfast, recalling that there were 2 people as far as he remembered.
"EVEN IF I SAY I AM THE HOTEL MANAGER, I DO NOT HAVE FULL AUTHORITY"
Yılmaz stated that he was not given any documents regarding the inspection conducted in December and that he could not remember when the last inspection was conducted before this month, but he mentioned that it might have been conducted the previous year, saying, "I am not sure."
They had verbally notified us about the deficiencies identified in the last inspection. I do not know whether the reports related to these inspections have been given to us. If they are provided, I also do not know where these reports are kept. The follow-up of these matters is handled by our authorized person, Mr. Emir. Although I claim to be the hotel manager, I do not have full authority.
Yılmaz stated that the Provincial Special Administration has not yet come for inspection this year, and when they came last year, they examined the areas where the staff worked and stayed, as well as the areas where customers were located on the 6th floor, and he could not fully remember what they had examined: "I do not remember whether the reports in question came physically or digitally at this moment. I do not remember which company conducted the fire drill I mentioned in my first statement. If I am not mistaken, the drill was conducted in the autumn season, but I do not remember the exact date. Due to my lack of full authority in hotel management, I do not have detailed information about the ongoing processes.
"I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE REPORT"
Kadir Özdemir is our accountant. I do not know for sure, but the report requested on December 12, 2024, may be related to the café that was requested to be opened on the first floor of the hotel. The café was supposed to be opened by a company named Mudurnu Enerji. I later learned that this application was made for the café. The reason for this is my lack of knowledge about certain matters, as I mentioned earlier. I do not have a separate office as the operations manager. I would be at the reception all day.
I also did not know that a report was prepared stating that this request was not appropriate. I am learning this now. Although I am the hotel manager, I do not have much authority and responsibility. Therefore, I do not have information about the mentioned matters. I did not see the officials who came during the hotel's inspection mentioned in the report you referred to; I was not with them. I also do not remember whether the deficiencies mentioned in the report stating that it was not appropriate have been addressed; I was not aware of this report."