Fire breaks out at Yeri factory (Updated)

Authorities stayed on standby on Thursday evening to contain a fire that broke out earlier in the day at the site of a factory in the industrial area of Yeri, outside Nicosia.

The factory contains recyclable materials, mostly from vehicles.

In total, 11 firefighting vehicles were dispatched to the site.

Earlier, fire department spokesman Andreas Kettis said due to the composition of the burning materials, firefighters were using foam, and it would take some time before the flames were completely put out.

As to explosion-like sounds heard in the area, Kettis said these were popping car tyres.

In a later tweet, he said firefighters were mounting strenuous efforts to prevent the factory in question from being engulfed by the flames, and to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby factories.

The civil defence meanwhile advised local residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movements outside, due to the intense smell and the smoke.