A huge fire engulfed the cargo area of Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport, disrupted flights and forced 2,000 workers to flee the black smoke which plumed 100 feet into the air.

Three people were treated for smoke inhalation, but "Our biggest consolation is there is no loss of life," said Mujdat Yucel, manager of the Havas cargo and ground services company.

Workers said the entire structure was in flames within five minutes.

The airport is located near a hangar housing military aircraft.

Deputy Gov. Fikret Kasapoglu said a short-circuit was to blame while another deputy governor, Vedat Muftuoglu, told CNN-Turk television that a spark from a welder's torch caused the fire.

Private NTV television said the fire began in a section where fuel depots were located.

There is no immediate indication the blaze was terrorism-related, and authorities suggested the fire at Turkey's busiest airport may have been sparked from a welder's torch or a short-circuit.

"It was definitely not sabotage," said Kasapoglu. "But there are various kinds of materials in there, flammable, explosive, so we have to be careful."

However, a hardline Kurdish group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons Organization, claimed responsibility for the fire, the Netherlands-based Firat News Agency reported.

The Freedom Falcons are linked to the Kurdistan Workers party -- the main Kurdish guerrilla group.

There was no immediate government comment on the claim.

Fire crews arrived on the scene within 10 minutes, Dogan said, adding that airplanes have been flying overhead dropping water.

Gov. Muammer Guler of Istanbul said there was "great financial damage" to the building, which is used to store international freight arriving in Istanbul.

The quick-spreading fire destroyed much of the cargo stored in the building, including textile products and gold shipments, officials said. They said they would need more time to estimate the damage, but that it was expected to be extensive.

They also said that there was still the danger for the fire to reach explosive materials because the cargo section contained a wide variety of materials being exported and imported.

Every year, millions of tourists pass through the airport, which is located about 16 kilometres from the city centre and serves as the main hub for the country's domestic and international flights.