New invitation to disaster in Alanya: Both unlicensed and still under renovation

In January of this year, a shocking development occurred in Alanya, which became the center of Turkey's attention due to a fire that broke out during renovation. It was revealed that construction had resumed at a 10-story hotel without the necessary permits and building usage certificate. The Alanya Municipality clarified that they had not approved the works, raising the question of who is turning a blind eye to this situation.

The building, located in the Cikcilli District of Alanya, was originally used as a residential building but had been converted into a hotel in recent years. Immediately after the Kartalkaya hotel fire, this Alanya hotel also caught fire in January, bringing the incident into the public eye. The fire, which started on the first floor, spread quickly, but fortunately, no casualties occurred. A statement from the Alanya Municipality revealed that the building did not have an hotel license or a certificate of use.

INSUFFICIENT DOCUMENTS AND UNLICENSED BUILDING

According to the reviewed records, the building was initially designed as a residential property but began to be rented to foreign tourists in 2022-2023. In 2024, the "Daily Rental Permit Certificate" was obtained from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, allowing it to be used for tourism purposes. However, this certificate was not sufficient to operate the building as a hotel. The Alanya Municipality stated that a building without an occupancy permit could not engage in tourism activities. The fire brought these violations to light and exposed gaps in the building inspection process.

INCREDIBLE BUT TRUE

Shortly after the fire, it was noticed that construction and renovation work had resumed in the same building. The Alanya Municipality reacted, stating that no permit had been obtained. However, the continuation of construction raised the question: "How can a building without a permit continue to be reconstructed?" Explanations from the authorities are awaited, and attention is now focused on the actions that the Antalya Governorship and relevant institutions will take. This incident in Alanya has sparked new discussions about the effectiveness of the city’s construction and permit inspection mechanisms.