BSEC premises in Istanbul damaged by fire

PanARMENIAN.Net - A fire erupted in a historic villa in Istanbul's Sarıyer district on Wednesday, April 10, seriously damaging its roof, Today’s Zaman reported.

The fire suddenly engulfed the roof of historic Müşir Fuat Paşa Villa in the İstinye neighborhood at approximately 6:00 am. Firefighting units were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the fire and with the efforts of 105 firefighters, the fire was successfully contained. The cause of the fire is still not revealed and officials continue to investigate the incident.

Müşir Fuat Paşa was a successful army officer and statesman during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamit II. The villa was renovated in 1991 and given to the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), D-8 International Secretariat and a representative of Turkey from the Foreign Ministry.

As a source in Istanbul told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the fire was presumably caused by a short circuit. Possibility of arson is also being investigated, the source said, adding that the activity of the Secretariat will be suspended till the end of April.

“The Consulate General of Ukraine, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the organization, will temporarily host the Secretariat’s governing body,” the source said.

The villa, built in the second half of the 19th century, is known as one of the most precious and beautiful on Istanbul Bosporus Strait.

The villa is estimated to be valued at more than $100 million.