Grand Kartal Hotel fire victims' families hold justice vigil

Families of the 78 victims of the Grand Kartal Hotel fire in Bolu, Kartalkaya, have concluded a three-day justice vigil at Ankara's Anıtpark. The victims included 36 children who lost their lives due to negligence during the incident.

While the Bolu 1st High Criminal Court has accepted an indictment against 32 individuals and sentenced 11 suspects, including hotel owner Halit Ergül, to life imprisonment, the victims' families argue that these measures are insufficient. They are demanding accountability from government institutions, specifically the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and the Ministry of Interior.

During the vigil, families used symbolic gestures, such as placing empty chairs tied with bedsheets to represent loved ones who attempted to escape the fire. Political figures from the Yeniden Refah Party and the DEM Party visited the families to express support for their pursuit of legal accountability.