VIDEO: Explosions rock Istanbul after horrific warehouse fire
Thick black smoke billows from the fire site.
Huge explosions rocked the Turkish city of Istanbul on Friday, after a horrific fire broke out in the largest warehouse of household and logistical materials in the densely populated Esenerot district.
The explosion is believed to be an accident whose causes are not yet known, according to local media.
The fire suddenly erupted in the eastern section of the warehouse, which extends over an area of 20,000 square metres and contains 13,000 tonnes of stored materials.
The fire consumed the entire warehouse.
A cloud of smoke covered the surrounding neighborhoods, Istanbul residents reported of breathing problem.
The authorities sent 40 fire engines and hundreds of firefighters are at the fire site.
The authorities are preparing to evacuate entire neighbourhoods if the fire is not controlled within hours.
The police also evacuated 12 commercial and marketing centres in the area and closed all roads leading to the fire area.
The latest incident came at a time when Turkey is witnessing a wave of huge wildfires, in which tens of thousands of hectares of forest land in the southwest of the country have been devoured by fire.
