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Turkey assesses huge losses after airport
fire
25.5.2006
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Police increased
security at Istanbul's Ataturk International airport
on Thursday as authorities and companies began to
assess the huge damages caused by a raging fire and
tried to determine what caused it.
A hard-line Kurdish militant group has claimed
responsibility in an e-mail to a pro-Kurdish news
agency in The Netherlands, but authorities would not
comment on the claim, saying an investigation is
under way.
The blaze quickly burned much of the airport's cargo
section to the ground, and officials said they are
working on contingency plans, including taking on
freight at the city's other airport on the Asian
side of the city, and in the town of Corlu, about
90km to the west.
Water-bombing planes made more than 140 sorties over
the smouldering wreck, and firefighters battled the
blaze for five hours. They had been unable to assess
damages Wednesday because the area remained too hot
to enter, and a team of firefighters worked through
the night to cool it.
The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons Organisation, a
hard-line group linked to the main Kurdish guerrilla
group, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), said it
started the blaze, according to the Firat news
agency's website on Wednesday. Firat often receives
information from Kurdish rebel leaders. |
Ataturk Airport - Istanbul Turkey
Photo:AP-AFP |
The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons have claimed eight
bombings in Istanbul this year, and recently said
tourism and economic targets are among the group's
priorities. Previous bombings left two dead and 47
injured.
Thick, black smoke from the airport blaze could be
seen from 10km away and forced the closure of one of
the airport's runways, causing flight delays. Three
people suffered smoke inhalation, but no one was
killed, authorities said.
The fire destroyed cargo including textile products
and gold shipments, officials said. They said they
will need more time to estimate the damage, but that
it will total millions of dollars.
The cargo operation of Turkish Airlines, which was
in a separate section of the airport, was unaffected
by the blaze. Most other airlines and carriers will
be affected. Turkish Airlines planes could be seen
landing even as the fire raged.
Workers said the entire structure, about 150 000
square metres, was in flames within five minutes.
About 2 000 workers fled in the panic after the
fire.
Kurdish militants have been fighting for autonomy in
Turkey since 1984, in a fight that has left more
than 37 000 dead. The group appears to be a radical
offshoot of the PKK, which does most of its fighting
in the country's Kurdish-majority south-east.
The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons have vowed to bring
the fight to Turkey's cities.
AP
Southeastern Turkey: North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey)
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