A fire broke out on the first floor of a building on Makarios Αvenue in Limassol after a loud explosion was heard at around 7.40am.
The explosion took place during the morning rush hour and it was a miracle that no one was injured from the flying shards of glass and pieces of aluminium.
“There is a beauty salon on the first floor where the explosion appears to have taken place,” Limassol CID chief Iannis Soteriades said.
Police and the fire service said the blaze was apparently started after an explosion at the beauty salon on the first floor of the business centre.
Police and the fire-service have cordoned off the area, closing down Makarios and Ayias Zonis Avenues.
The fire was put under control after damaging the first and second floors.
Soteriades confirmed that the owner of the salon had reported finding signs that a fire had been set the previous day but failed to spread.
Apart from the first and second floors, damage was caused to one vehicle.
“The explosion was violent, sending glass and aluminum flying into the street,” he said. “It is certainly a miracle there were no victims or more damage.”
Six fire engines scrambled to the scene, which was cordoned off by police creating a traffic jam for a few hours.
Fire service director Markos Trangolas said they were investigating the incident with the police.
“There aren’t many possibilities considering that there had been an arson attempt yesterday,” he said.