Breaking News: Hotel fire in Bursa Uludağ!

A fire of undetermined origin broke out in a hotel in the Bursa Uludağ Hotel Zone, which had its simple accommodation certificate expired and its allocation process terminated.

Upon receiving the fire report, fire crews were quickly dispatched to the scene.

It was determined that 12 people working at the hotel and the ski center on the lower floor were in the building during the fire. It was learned that a ski instructor, his wife, and his son were affected by smoke.

Yahya Usta, President of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Instructors Association, his wife Fikriye, and their son Berkin Usta, who were in the hotel that had been ordered to be evacuated by the court, were removed from the building unconscious. The injured were taken to the health center in Uludağ. However, despite all interventions, Yahya Usta and Berkin Usta could not be saved.

In a statement made by the Bursa Governor's Office, it was stated that the fire broke out at 05:29 in the hotel, whose accommodation permit was canceled on January 2, and that "The fire was intervened immediately by 110 personnel from various public institutions and organizations, brought under control, and cooling efforts have begun. The 12 personnel in the hotel were removed by intervention teams. Unfortunately, 2 of the removed personnel lost their lives. We wish God's mercy upon the deceased personnel and a speedy recovery to our injured."

It was learned that the family who lost their lives in the fire operated the ski center and were staying on the fifth floor of the hotel.

The Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office took action regarding the incident and decided to have an expert examination conducted. A 5-person expert team consisting of mechanical and electrical engineers and fire department officials will investigate the cause of the fire.

"INTERVENTION WITHIN 3 MINUTES"

Bursa Metropolitan Municipality announced in a statement on the social media platform X that the fire, which broke out in the cafeteria section of a hotel in the Uludağ Hotel Zone in the morning hours, was intervened within 3 minutes following the report made at 05:29.

The statement expressed that the Fire Department teams intervened in the fire with 25 vehicles and 60 personnel, that a coordinated effort was carried out with the Gendarmerie and AFAD, and that the fire was brought under control.

"SECURITY GUARDS WERE STAYING INSIDE THE HOTEL"

Hüseyin Bülbül, who works as a security guard at another hotel in Uludağ, said that he saw light from the window while getting up for suhoor in the morning and noticed the fire.

Stating that he reported the situation to the authorities, Bülbül said, "Meanwhile, the fire department arrived. Because there was snow in the back, they could not intervene in the rear part of the hotel. The vehicles could not get to the back. Security guards were staying inside the hotel. The fire crews focused on the front side to save them."

Bülbül emphasized that additional fire crews also came to the region from Bursa and said, "There were people left inside. I don't know their condition right now. I hope they are okay. The fire crews in Uludağ first intervened from the front to save those left inside. People were shouting from the windows at the front."

DEATH TOLL ROSE TO 3

Yahya Usta, President of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Instructors Association, his wife Fikriye, and their son Berkin Usta, who were removed from the hotel unconscious, were taken to the health center in Uludağ. Yahya Usta and Berkin Usta could not be saved despite the intervention. It was learned that Berkin Usta was a National Skier who represented Turkey at the 24th Beijing Winter Olympics.

Shortly after, it was reported that the death toll had risen to 3.