An Olympic skier and his dad have d!ed in a blaze at a closed ski resort hotel in Turkey
Berkin Usta, 25, and his 57-year-old dad Yahya were k!lled after a devastating fire broke out at the Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, Bursa province on Thursday, March 27.
Usta had competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and was the founder of a team called Skicraft. His father had been president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association.
Father Yayha Usta’s wife was also said to be staying in the Bursa hotel but she has not been mentioned as de@d.
The Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, Bursa province, was empty of guests when the fire started at 5:30 a.m. but 12 staff were present, Bursa governor´s office said. Several people suffering smoke inhalation were hospitalised.
The 30-year-old hotel was shut down in early January when its accommodation permit was cancelled, the governor’s office added.
TV images showed flames quickly engulfing the six-story hotel, located on the slopes of one of Turkey´s most popular ski destinations, less than a three-hour drive from Istanbul.
Fire crews brought the blaze under control within two hours but not before the upper floors had been gutted.
Bursa Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said the fire began in the cafeteria.
According to Turkish news outlet Hurriyet, the hotel had been closed due to deficiencies in inspections.
Their report claims that sparks from a barbecue grill leapt onto the hotel veranda, igniting a piece of plastic.