Turkish Olympic skier Berkin Usta, 24, and his father, Yahya Usta, have tragically lost their lives in a fire that engulfed the Kervansaray Hotel in Uludağ, Bursa.
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of March 27, 2025, also left several others injured and hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.
The blaze reportedly started in the hotel’s cafeteria around 5:30 a.m.
The Kervansaray Hotel, whose accommodation permit had been revoked in January, was not supposed to be operational, yet 12 staff members were reportedly inside when the fire erupted.
Emergency responders battled the flames and worked to evacuate those trapped, but unfortunately, Berkin and his father could not be saved.
In response, authorities have detained the hotel’s manager and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Berkin Usta was a promising alpine skier who represented Turkey at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. His talent and commitment to the sport had made him a rising figure in Turkey’s winter sports scene.
His father, Yahya Usta, played a crucial role in the skiing community as the president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association, dedicating years to developing the sport in Turkey.
Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the Turkish sports world.
Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing it as a huge loss for the nation’s skiing community.
