Olympic Skier Berkin Usta and Father Killed in Abandoned Hotel Fire in Turkey

The fire at the Kervansaray Hotel, shut down for safety violations, has prompted mourning and investigations into accountability.

Berkin Usta, a 25-year-old Olympic skier who competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and his father, Yahya Usta, died in a fire on March 27, 2025.
The fire occurred at the abandoned Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, northwest Turkey, which had been closed months earlier due to safety violations.
Investigations are ongoing into how the unsafe facility was being used at the time of the tragedy and the circumstances surrounding the fire’s rapid spread.
The fire reportedly started from sparks caused by a barbecue grill igniting a piece of plastic, leaving no chance for escape.
The global skiing community is mourning the loss of Berkin Usta, a rising star in alpine skiing, and Yahya Usta, a respected figure in Turkish skiing leadership.