Kartalkaya Hotel Fire: Owner’s Wife Testifies in Trial

During the hearing regarding the tragic fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel that claimed 78 lives, the wife of hotel owner Halit Ergül, Emine Murtezaoglu Ergül, offered her defense. The trial sheds light on the events leading up to the disaster and the responsibilities of those in charge.

Defendant Claims Limited Hotel Involvement

Emine Murtezaoglu Ergül, who was arrested two months following the devastating incident, recounted her experience on the night of the fire, stating she narrowly escaped. After hearing noises from the corridor, kır’ dedim. She contacted her husband, who was at Gazelle Hotel, seeking assistance because people were trapped inside. “İçeride insanlar vardı. Duman çok kötüydü. İnsanlara yardım etmeye çalıştım, gitmeye çalıştım ama ulaşamadım. Çok toz ve duman vardı.

Continuing her account, Ergül added, Lens kullananlar bilir; toz ve kuruluk gözleri çok kötü etkiler. Bu yüzden gidemedim, dışarı çıktım. Yüksek merdivenle 6’ncı ve 7’nci kattaki insanları kurtarıyorlardı. Beni de o merdivenle kurtardılar. Bir sürü insan vardı; çıkan herkes sağa I was able to go to Dorukaya Hotel. We stayed in Gazelle Hotel for a few days.

‘Not Interested in Hotel Operations’

Emine Murtezaoğlu Ergül asserted she had no direct involvement in the hotel’s daily operations. She explained, “ours is a family company. I wasn’t interested in business. My father would do the same, my wife did. I had my grandchildren, I didn’t have any interest in the work of the hotel. According to data, family businesses make up 80 to 90 percent of all companies in North America (Harvard Business Review 2023).

Court Questions Defendant’s Role

The Court President inquired about Ergül’s official duties as listed in the Trade Registry Newspaper. Ergül acknowledged having a formal role, stating, “Yes, I had such a duty. When I didn’t have a wife, they would bring me a paperwork, I would have signed it. I wouldn’t interfere with the hotel management. Emir Aras was the manager, but he wouldn’t decide on his own.

The defendant stated she didn’t know specifics regarding fire safety measures, such as employee training and the presence of fire extinguishers, but confirmed there were fire tubes in the corridors”.