Fire in Türkiye's Uludağ hotel claims two lives, cause determined PHOTO

A devastating fire broke out early this morning at a hotel in the Uludağ district of Bursa, Türkiye, resulting in the tragic deaths of two people. 

The fire, which started at approximately 5:29 AM, quickly spread through the building, prompting a swift response from local firefighting teams, Caliber.Az reports via Tuirkish media.

The Bursa Governor’s Office confirmed the loss of two lives in the blaze, revealing that 12 people, including hotel staff and workers at the nearby ski center, were inside when the fire began. Among the victims were Yahya Usta, a ski instructor and president of the Ski Instructors Association, and his son, Berkin Usta, a national skier who represented Türkiye at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Both were rescued in an unconscious state but later succumbed to smoke inhalation.

Authorities have determined that the fire started in the hotel’s cafeteria section, located in the Uludağ Hotels Area. The hotel had not renewed its operating license after the expiration of its accommodation document and the conclusion of the National Parks’ allocation process.

Upon receiving the alert, 110 personnel from various public institutions, including the fire department, were dispatched to the scene, and the fire was brought under control. The affected hotel, which had its accommodation permission revoked on January 2, is located in a popular area for ski tourism.

The hotel’s security personnel, who were inside the building at the time of the fire, were also rescued by the firefighting teams. However, two individuals did not survive the blaze.

The Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, with a team of experts—including engineers and firefighters—assigned to determine the exact cause.

By Vugar Khalilov