Turkiye: Firefighters bring fire under control at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar as of late Sept. 16

Event

Firefighters have brought a fire that ignited on the roof of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar under control as of late Sept. 16. Officials dispatched firefighters to the scene in large numbers following the initial report of the blaze. Smoke from the fire was reportedly visible from several parts of the city. Authorities confirmed that cooling efforts were continuing as of around 23:00. Officials did not immediately confirm the cause of the blaze or any casualties.

Heightened security measures are likely in the area until firefighters vacate the scene. Residual transport and business disruptions cannot be ruled out. The smoke from the fire may noticeably worsen air quality in the area over the short term.

Advice

Avoid the incident site until authorities complete their cooling efforts and vacate the scene. Allow additional time if traveling in the affected area and seek alternative routes to circumvent any residual transport disruptions. Consider remaining indoors if smoke is heavy, especially if you suffer from a respiratory illness, such as asthma, or conditions that lead to increased risk from smoke exposure. Eye irritation is possible; flush irritated eyes with copious amounts of clean water.