Fire erupts at Turkish toy factory, causes massive destruction
In the Turkish town of Buyukkaristiran, a serious fire broke out at the "Pilsan" toy factory. "A gigantic cloud of smoke rose above the facility, and the flames were visible from afar," reports "Bild".
The Pilsan factory produces toy fire engines, among other things. The fire, whose cause has yet to be determined, quickly spread from the production area to the factory's administrative offices.
The facility stored large quantities of plastic, which formed a dense, black smoke cloud that could be seen from several kilometres away.
"Bild" reports that firefighters were called to the scene from neighbouring provinces and from Istanbul, hundreds of kilometres away. The firefighting operation lasted nearly six hours.
Firefighters had to contend with the intense blaze, which in places caused the factory's roof to collapse. An additional threat was the explosion of batteries located within the toys.
Turkey. Widespread destruction
The fire completely destroyed the warehouse and production areas of the factory. Losses are estimated to reach millions of Turkish lira. According to initial reports, no one was killed in the fire, although factory employees witnessed dramatic scenes.
Firefighters and rescue services, despite extinguishing the main flames, continue to monitor the site of the fire. Observation and cooling of the affected areas lasted until the late evening hours to prevent the fire from reigniting.
Local authorities and the factory management have announced a detailed investigation to determine the causes of the tragedy.
