First anniversary of the Kartalkaya tragedy: 'Angel' symbol projected onto the hotel

Exactly one year has passed since the fire tragedy that plunged Turkey into mourning. A total of 78 people, including 34 children, lost their lives in the fire that occurred at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya.

On the anniversary of the tragedy, where the pain has not subsided, those left behind were once again at the scene.

In Kartalkaya, where the air temperature dropped below zero at midnight, families gathered in front of the hotel building as the clock struck 03:17.

'ANGEL' SYMBOLS PROJECTED ONTO THE BURNT HOTEL

During the commemoration, which was filled with emotional moments, the names of those who lost their lives and 'Angel' symbols representing them were projected onto the hotel wall.

Families released sky lanterns for the children, spouses, and siblings they lost.

"UNFORTUNATELY, MY HUSBAND LIVED THROUGH THAT HELL"

Menşure Akişli, who lost her stepdaughter Mina and her husband Şenol Akişli in the fire tragedy, said, "It is a very painful night. I came here with great reluctance. But no helplessness can be greater than the helplessness my husband experienced.

Because my husband woke up and called the fire department multiple times. I comforted myself a little by thinking that he didn't wake up at all. I thought, 'He didn't suffer, he didn't think about his mother, his son, his daughter, his wife.' Unfortunately, my husband lived through that hell," she stated.

"SO THERE IS A PERSON HERE WHO HAS LOST EVERYTHING"

Oktay Akişli, who lost his brother Şenol Akişli, his niece Mina Akişli, and his mother Gülçin Akişli in the fire tragedy, said, "I lost my mother, my brother, and my niece in this fire. 78 days after the incident, I also lost my father. So there is a person here who has lost everything. The homes of dozens of families were extinguished. They took away the dreams and hopes of dozens of people."

Here are scenes from the memorial service held at the hotel where the tragedy took place...