Huge fire burning at Ataturk Airport

[wildcatlh]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/05/24...fire/index.html

 

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- A massive fire has engulfed part of Turkey's Istanbul Airport, forcing air traffic to be suspended.

 

The fire broke out on Wednesday in the cargo area of the international Ataturk airport. No injuries have been reported but ambulances were standing by.

 

There were conflicting reports about the cause of the blaze, but local journalist Gokhan Guvenc told CNN officials told him an electrical short-circuit was being blamed.

 

Electrical work was being carried out at the time, one witness said.

 

Private NTV television reported that the fire began in a section where fuel depots were located, according to The Associated Press.

 

Another witness told NTV that it was unclear whether anyone remained in the cargo area. (Watch heavy black smoke filling the sky -- 1:00)

 

The blaze broke out at 3:30 p.m. (1230 GMT) in the cargo area of Terminal A, a witness told NTV.

 

Hundreds of people gathered along the perimeter of the airport to watch the scene.

 

Thick plumes of smoke billowed about 30 meters (100 feet) into the air, television footage showed. Kaya Heyse, a producer for CNN's sister network CNN Turk, said the smoke could be seen from all over Istanbul.

 

He said the fire was being contained in the cargo section of the airport but it was threatening a hotel near the airport. Firefighters were tackling the blaze as planes doused water from the air.

 

The cargo area is about 1,000 meters (yards) from the main passenger terminal

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