Istanbul, Turkey – Olympic skier Berkin Usta and his father tragically lost their lives in a fire at a closed ski resort in Turkey. Berkin Usta, 25, proudly represented Turkey in the 2022 Olympics, while his father, Yahya Usta, held the position of the president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association.
Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak expressed deep sorrow over the devastating loss of the Ustas in the hotel fire. The Ustas, who were staying on the hotel’s second-highest level, included Berkin’s mother, who miraculously survived the tragic incident.
The Kervansaray Hotel, located on a popular ski destination three hours outside of Istanbul, was devoid of guests when the fire broke out early in the morning. Despite the absence of guests, 12 staff members were present at the time of the blaze.
The fire, which started in the cafeteria around 5:30 a.m., led to several individuals being hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. The hotel manager was later detained by authorities. The tragic incident occurred despite the hotel being closed in January when its accommodation permit was canceled.
After the fire was eventually brought under control by fire crews, the upper floors of the hotel suffered severe damage. The mayor of Bursa, Mustafa Bozbey, highlighted previous concerns over the hotel’s safety in January and questioned why there were 12 individuals inside the closed establishment.
This unfortunate incident follows a similar tragedy earlier in the year at the Grand Kartal hotel ski resort in Turkey, where 79 people lost their lives in a fire. The investigation into the Kervansaray Hotel fire continues as authorities work to understand the circumstances surrounding the presence of individuals in the closed hotel during the tragic event.