Fire breaks out at Istanbul airport, no casualties

ISTANBUL, March 8, 2010 (AFP) - A fire broke out Sunday at a power generating unit at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, a major regional transport hub, the Anatolia news agency reported.

The cause of the fire, which erupted at around 10:00 p.m. (2000 GMT), was not immediately known, the agency said, citing the undersecretary of the transport ministry Habib Soluk.


Dozens of firefighters managed to bring the flames under control after about two hours. Television images showed thick black smoke billowing out of the facility.

There were no injuries and air travel was not affected, Soluk said.

The unit, which produces part of the airport's energy, was located some 200 metres (yards) from the terminals and posed no danger to passengers.

The facility housed generators which were completely destroyed in the fire, Soluk added.


by Andrew Gully
© 2010 AFP