The owner of a Turkish hotel and 10 other individuals have been sentenced to life in prison following a fire identified as the deadliest in the country's history.
Court Ruling
Hotel owner Halit Ergül, his wife, and two daughters were among those who received the maximum penalty. Bolu's deputy mayor and the local fire chief were also sentenced to life imprisonment. The individuals were found guilty of severe negligence related to the incident.
The Fire Incident
The fire occurred at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu during school holidays in January. The blaze resulted in the deaths of 78 people, including 34 children. The fire spread through the 12-storey building in the early hours of the morning, leading some residents to jump from the structure.
Legal Proceedings
A total of 32 individuals faced charges concerning the fire.