Fire in Moscow airport's storage room prompts evacuation, flight delays

MOSCOW, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- About 3,000 people were evacuated from Moscow Domodedovo International Airport on Thursday, as smoke billowed from a fire that erupted in the baggage sector of a storage room.

The fire started about 7 a.m. during construction work at the airport. The smoke apidly spread into the ventilation system and filled the terminal, forcing emergency services to begin evacuating people, state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.

"It didn't turn into an actual fire, but the smokescreen was thick, so the decision was made to start evacuation," an emergency worker said, The Moscow Times reported.

More than 100 flights were delayed, and some 3,000 people evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Major traffic jams were reported on highways and roads leading to the airport.