A massive fire has erupted near a NATO base within the Buca district, Izmir, western Turkey. Authorities are investigating a possible act of sabotage, local media reports.
The inferno started on Sunday evening on the border of the Sahintepe and Mevkiinde districts. The fire engulfed the grassy wooded area and is spreading closer to NATO’s military base because of strong winds.
İzmir Buca'da ki yangın nihayet kontrol altına alındı şimdilik çok şükür pic.twitter.com/8V29LoHc6r
— TC Aysun (@ve_Laiklik) July 24, 2016
According to CNN Turk, the fire is threatening a number of populated areas, and has already impacted a home for the elderly and its adjacent garden.
https://twitter.com/TGVIA/status/757323519617339392
Despite intense efforts by NATO-stationed troops to stop the fire, the rapidly-spreading flames are moving closer to the arsenal, T24 News reports. The channel also reports that possible “sabotage” is suspected.
Large fire in Izmir Buca, near the NATO base in Turkey. Fire is approaching base pic.twitter.com/TNYSmZYf9n https://t.co/NmjWEC5rmn
— Dreaming of Peace (@cjsienna55) July 24, 2016
The fire is threatening the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) base at Şirinyer (Buca) in İzmir, Turkey. LANDCOM is charged with improving the effectiveness and reaction time of the alliance’s land forces that when needed could respond to an international crisis.
https://twitter.com/robinmonotti/status/757330110517305346
Under the NATO nuclear weapons sharing program, Washington maintains its largest overseas nuclear arsenal in Turkey, consisting of up to 50 nuclear weapons, according to some estimates. The nukes however are stored at the base at Incirlik, and none are reportedly stored in Izmir.
İzmir buca'da saat 8 deki durum bu pic.twitter.com/csLIBNWxqX
— Okan Parimli (@OkanParimli) July 24, 2016
It took more than seven hours of battling the flames using helicopters and an airplane to contain the blaze. However, it has not yet been fully subdued, several local papers announced.
“The channel also reports that possible “sabotage” is suspected.”
Sounds like a call for more ‘security’ to me.
“Washington maintains its largest overseas nuclear arsenal in Turkey, consisting of up to 50 nuclear weapons,…”
So, in effect, a Muslim country has nukes, even though they’re on a NATO base. Interesting…
There’s also Pakistan, and they’ve had their own nukes for many years.
Granted.
They have shown restraint, however.
So far.