24/01/2025

Syriac family mourns five deaths in Kartalkaya Hotel Fire in Bolu, Turkey

BOLU, Turkey — The Syriac Tokcan family, originally from Medyad (Midyat) in the historic Tur Abdin region in southeastern Turkey, has been struck by tragedy following the Kartalkaya Hotel fire on 21 January. Followers of the Protestant Church, Murat Tokcan, his sons Can and Atil Enis, and two grandchildren, Kemal and Atlas Kaan Tokcan, lost their lives in the devastating incident.

The loss of five members of the Tokcan family is a profound tragedy for the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community in Turkey. Their story underscores the human toll of the fire and the ongoing need for accountability and safety measures to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.

The Federation of Syriac Associations in Turkey (Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu, SÜDEF) issued a heartfelt message of condolence to the families of all the victims, including those of the Tokcan family. Similarly, Suroyo TV extended its sympathies to the grieving families, expressing solidarity with the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community and all those affected by the disaster.

Negligence Allegations Surface

Reports reveal that 19 days before the fire, the Fire Department in the municipality of Bolu issued a warning about safety violations at the 12-story hotel. However, these warnings reportedly went unheeded by the hotel management. Despite this, the municipality has denied responsibility for the fire, which claimed 79 lives and injured 50 others.

The Kartalkaya Hotel, housing 238 guests at the time of the incident, has been at the center of an investigation. Eleven suspects are currently under scrutiny for their potential roles in the tragedy.