Scandal upon scandal in the Kartalkaya tragedy: The boss's lies exposed

Turkey continues to talk about the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, the greatest tragedy of recent times.

Almost every day, a new detail or a new scandal regarding the disaster comes to light.

THE MOMENT THE FIRE STARTED WAS CAPTURED

Documents included in the investigation file regarding the incident also cover the moment the fire first broke out. In the footage examined, where the hotel's security cameras were not damaged, it is seen that the flames originated from the restaurant section.

SMOKE ROSE FROM THE DEVICES

In the area referred to as the 'show' section, it was observed that smoke was rising from the devices used to prepare omelets and eggs for breakfast.

THE FIRE GREW BECAUSE NO ONE WAS THERE

According to the report by Sabah, the footage recorded by security cameras until the hotel's electricity was cut off shows that smoke began to rise from a cooking grill left on, after which the fire started and grew because there was no one in that section.

HOTEL MANAGER: THEY SHOULD NOT BE PLUGGED IN

Hotel Manager Zeki Yılmaz was also shown the footage where the smoke began during his interrogation by the prosecutor. In his statement, Yılmaz said:

"The video you showed me belongs to the restaurant section on the 4th floor that I just mentioned.

The place where the smoke is coming from in this video is the area referred to as the 'show' area, where things like omelets and eggs are made for breakfast. This area belongs to the kitchen and the chefs working in the kitchen. There are tools used for heating and cooking in this so-called show area.

Under normal circumstances, these tools should not be plugged in. They should only be plugged in when they are to be used. I do not know who the head chef assigned to this area on the date of the incident."

WAS THERE NO NIGHT STAFF IN THE RESTAURANT SECTION?

The footage was also shown to Faysal Yaver, one of the chefs preparing breakfast at night.

Yaver said, "The kitchen and restaurant sections are separate. There is no one working in the restaurant section at night.

The section where smoke appears to be coming from in the video of the restaurant area you showed me is where the plate-warming device, for which the waiters are responsible and in charge, is located. It appears that the smoke is coming from where this device is located. Neither I nor the other chefs who are bakers have anything to do with this section."

BAKER: I LOOKED FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT COULD NOT FIND ONE

Mehmet Gündüz, the hotel's baker who was taken into custody, stated that he worked with 3 other chefs and explained the following:

Yusuf, a chef working with me, said he was going on a break. As he was leaving, he said there was a fire in the restaurant section. Chef Mehmet shouted, 'There is a fire!'

I started looking for a fire extinguisher, but I could not find one in the area where I was. Chef Yusuf went to the reception area to trigger the fire alarms. I did not see where the fire started. I started running down the stairs. During this time, I shouted, 'There is a fire!'

SCANDALS WERE EXPOSED ONE BY ONE

I also started banging on the doors at that time. I did not see any fire buttons on the floors. I could not find any fire extinguishers on the floors either. I exited the hotel through the garage section on the ground floor. I saw that the side of the building facing the ski slope was on fire.

I tried to create a soft surface to save people who were jumping by carrying mattresses from the Kartal Hotel located next door.

THE BOSS'S LIES WERE EXPOSED

The statements of the employees also refuted the defense of Halit Ergül, who tried to blame the staff for the incident, one by one.

In his statement, Halit Ergül had said, "We have our own private security unit. They patrol inside the hotel 24 hours a day. They ensure the security of the hotel from every angle. When there is a fire, they press the alarm. They report it. If there is a health-related issue, they inform the relevant unit."

EMPLOYEES TOLD THE TRUTH

It was determined through testimonies that there was neither a security room nor a security guard working at night in the hotel, where 238 people were staying. The prosecutor investigating the case asked the chefs working in the bakery whether there was a security guard at the hotel.

Baker Mehmet Gündüz said, "I did not see a security guard at the time of the incident. As far as I know, the hotel has a security guard who works during the day. I know his name as Mehmet. I do not know his last name."

Faysal Yaver, one of the chefs preparing breakfast at night, also said, "There is no one introduced to me as being assigned for fire safety at the hotel. I do not know of such a person, but I was told to provide food for 2 people because I work at night."

"I DID NOT SEE ANYONE WORKING AT NIGHT"

These people were the night staff working at the reception. Other than that, I do not know of any staff responsible for the floors. These 2 people at the reception would generally come and take the prepared food. I did not see a security guard working at the hotel at night. If there were one, he would have taken food from us because he was working at night," he said.

6 EMPLOYEES FOR 238 PEOPLE

On the other hand, it was revealed that in the hotel where 238 people were staying at night, there were only two people at the reception, and there were 4 employees in the kitchen section who came to prepare bread and breakfast at night.