Fire engulfs Istanbul train station

Turkish firefighters are trying to put out a huge fire that has engulfed the roof of Istanbul’s historic Haydarpasa train station building.

Selami Ozturk, local mayor of the Kadikoy district, said the fire began during restoration work on the roof.

He said the fire spread to the building as well and firefighters from land and sea are trying to extinguish it.

Eyup Mumcu, head of Turkey’s Architects’ Chamber, told a TV station that the building sits on about 220 wooden beams and there is urgent need to spray water or foam from the air as well.

Haydarpasa, which was built in the early 20th century by German architects in a neo-renaissance style, is considered to be a historic monument.