Three hurt in Istanbul airport fire

A huge fire engulfed the cargo section of Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport today, temporarily disrupting air traffic and injuring three people, authorities said.

Deputy Gov Fikret Kasapoglu said three people were injured and that authorities suspected a short-circuit may have caused the fire.

There was no immediate indication that the fire was terrorism-related.

Black smoke, mixed with flames, billowed some 30 metres high into the air, television footage showed.

Authorities were trying to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby busy passenger terminals.

Private NTV television said the blaze began in a section where fuel depots were located.

Planes dropped water onto the flames, and airport authorities said the fire was slowly being tamed.

“There are no problems concerning flight security,” said one official.

Airport director Irfan Balta said planes had been successfully moved away from the fire.

Private NTV television said some cargo workers may have been trapped inside the two-story cargo building.