DEATHS PROBED
Olympic star tragically dies with his dad in fire at abandoned hotel as investigation launched
Six-storey resort had its accommodation permit taken away in January after 'problems'
AN Olympic star and his dad have died in a fire at a ski resort hotel.
The skiing world is in mourning after the death of Berkin Usta in his Turkish home city.
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The Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, Bursa, had its accommodation permit cancelled in January, the local governor´s office said.
However, city officials added that 12 staff were present at the time of the blaze.
Several people were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
The circumstances behind Usta and his father staying at the hotel have not been made clear.
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Prosecutors are now investigating the two deaths.
Just two months ago, a horrific blaze at another Turkish ski hotel during the school holidays led to 79 people deaths.
The fire which killed Usta and his 57-year-old dad Yahya is said to have started at 5.30am.
Bursa Mayor Mustafa Bozbey stated that the blaze started in the cafeteria.
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Yahya's wife was also reportedly staying at the six-storey Kervansaray Hotel.
But so far no information has been given on her condition.
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TV images showed flames rapidly engulfing the hotel.
Fire crews took less than two hours to bring the fire under control.
But by then the upper floors had been virtually destroyed.
Only hours before the tragedy, Usta had added a cosy-looking video by a log fire to his Instagram story.
Usta had followed his dad by becoming a national alpine skiier.
He competed at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was a founder of the Skicraft team.
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Usta Senior was president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association.
Turkey's sports minister Osman Askin Bak said: "I learned with deep sorrow that our national athlete Berkin Usta and his father Yahya Usta lost their lives in the fire that broke out in the hotel in Uludag."
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