Statement by the Climate Justice Coalition of Turkey
JUSTICE AND ACTION TO PREVENT MORE MASSACRES
The tragic loss of 78 lives, including 36 children, in the Kartalkaya, Bolu massacre has added yet another wound to our collective trauma. We are devastated and outraged. The cumulative impact of the disasters we endure continues to grow. The government’s blatant disregard only intensifies our suffering. In Bolu, due to a lack of space in the morgue, dead bodies were placed in a truck trailer bearing a fried chicken advertisement—just as we witnessed after the February 6 earthquake: indifference, irresponsibility, disrespect, deceit, incompetence, delayed actions, and discrimination are the sources of our immense anger and fury. However, it is past time that we discuss how to break free from these cycles of trauma and demand accountability.
THE DEATHS IN KARTALKAYA COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED
- Fire-resistant, smoke-proof doors could have been made of non-combustible materials.
- Flame-retardant electrical wiring could have been used.
- Cable ducts could have been fire-resistant and smoke-proof.
- Emergency exit signs could have been battery-operated instead of electrically dependent.
- Emergency lighting could have been installed in corridors and floors.
- Corridor carpets could have been non-flammable, designed to self-extinguish even if cigarette ash fell on them.
- Access to fire escape stairwells could have been secured through two smoke-proof, fire-resistant doors lasting at least 120 minutes.
- Fire escape stairwells could have been ventilated with large fans supplying fresh air from outside, while smoke could have been extracted separately. The walls of these stairwells could have been double-layered with fire-resistant drywall.
- Kitchens could have been equipped with foam-based fire suppression systems capable of extinguishing even burning oil.
- Hundreds of fire extinguishers could have been distributed throughout the buildings.
- The perimeter of hotels could have been equipped with fire hydrants supplying water to firefighting units.
These safety measures, which are mandatory in luxury hotels according to international standards, were tragically absent at the Grand Kartal Hotel. In Turkey, the lobbying power of construction firms has already weakened the limited authority of fire departments, reducing their ability to enforce fire safety regulations. Without regulatory enforcement to compel contractors to invest in fire safety measures, such investments are seen as unprofitable and thus neglected—resulting in preventable deaths.
On April 5, 2012, a Cabinet decree published in the Official Gazette removed the requirement for fire departments to provide safety approvals. The Ministry of Tourism, despite lacking sufficient technical expertise and personnel, was given the sole authority to issue permits. This change directly contradicts the fundamental principle that an agency lacking the necessary expertise should not issue permits and that the institution granting permits should also be responsible for inspections. As a result, the risk for tourist accommodations—where large numbers of people congregate—has increased significantly.
This regulatory authority must be revoked. No institution should be able to issue permits without approval from the Fire Department. No operating license should be granted for any building—especially those providing public services—without a fire safety report from the Fire Department.
WE KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
The true culprits of these deaths are:
- The ruling government, which serves profit-driven construction lobbies that view fire safety measures as obstacles to their earnings.
- Those who dismantled public safety laws and regulations in favor of capital.
- Those who weakened professional chambers and discredited scientists’ warnings.
- Those who privatized public oversight and made workplace safety experts financially dependent on business owners.
- Those who appointed a travel agency owner as the Minister of Tourism and his former employee as the head of tourism facility inspections.
During the 22-year rule of the AK Party, no official has ever taken responsibility for the disasters we have endured. No legal or policy changes have been implemented to prevent such massacres from recurring. Instead, blame is placed on the weakest links in the chain.
We demand that the true perpetrators be removed from their positions and held accountable. We will continue to push for radical legislative changes in fire safety, occupational health and safety, and the protection of mountain ecosystems.
WE NEED AN ECOSYSTEM-BASED TRANSFORMATION
Mountain ecosystems lack effective and comprehensive protection. Neoliberal chaos has rendered public agencies responsible for their management ineffective and dysfunctional.
Mountain regions are fragile ecosystems, home to endangered species, and serve as critical water reservoirs and habitats. These areas, largely uninhabited by humans, are increasingly subjected to exploitation by mining and tourism companies.
Ski resorts must be developed with ecosystem protection in mind. Accommodations, homes, and hotels should be built in lower-altitude areas, while ski areas should be reserved solely for skiing.
Under international standards, private vehicles should not be allowed in such areas; transportation should be provided via cable cars, tunnels, or small trains. Each resort should have a dedicated fire department.
In Turkey, however, hotels have been built directly on ski slopes, disrupting their natural structure. Forests have been cleared, and slopes have been modified. To protect and restore mountain ecosystems, we must put an end to this destruction.
FOSSIL CAPITALISM IS KILLING US
The recent surge in deadly fires is primarily due to the use of highly flammable materials in the construction sector. The widespread use of insulation materials such as polyurethane and polystyrene—highly combustible substances—has led to fires escalating uncontrollably. Fires that could have been contained quickly with proper intervention spread out of control due to these materials.
The materials used on high-rise buildings, especially on facades, are crucial. Flammable cladding materials, which are difficult to extinguish even with water, are widely used due to their low cost and the lack of regulation rules.
We consider this fire disaster to be the collective crime of petroleum-based industries—those who produce, approve, and use non-compliant materials that fail to meet fire safety standards.
WE CANNOT TOLERATE MORE MASSACRES
The current trajectory is alarmingly dangerous. We must take immediate action to correct the course.
We call for organized grassroots resistance against fossil capital to build a livable world. We demand action to prevent another Kartalkaya massacre.
Climate Justice Coalition, Turkey
January 27, 2025
