A big fire broke out at the international Ataturk airport just outside the Turkish city of Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkish TV reported.

The fire started at the C terminal in the cargo section of the airport at around 3:30 PM local time (12:30 GMT), according to TV reports.

Thick black smoke was billowing from the airport, hotels near the airport came under threat from the massive fire and firefighters were launching a massive operation to put out the flames, according to TV footage.

Ambulances rushed to the scene, although there is no immediate report of any casualties.

TV reports cited airport officials as saying that passengers at nearby terminals were being evacuated and that the airport was shut down.

Some reports said that some people might be trapped inside, which cannot be confirmed at the moment.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear although authorities said that they did not suspect of any foul play at present and that it might be an accident.

Some reports said that a short circuit might lead to the fire. The incident took place at a busy tourism season in Istanbul when the international airport receives many flights daily.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2006)