Investigations after fire destroyed fifth-floor apartment

Fire services on Wednesday were investigating the causes of a fire that completely destroyed a fifth-floor apartment in Larnaca.

The fire broke out a few minutes before 10pm on Tuesday on the fifth floor of an apartment building in Makariou avenue, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis told the Cyprus News Agency.

Five fire engines responded to the fire, including a telescopic boom truck from the Larnaca and Oroklini fire stations.

According to Kettis, the residents of the apartments managed to exit safely while firefighters also carried out a search to make sure no person was trapped inside.

The resident of the flat that was completely destroyed was absent when the fire broke out, the spokesman added.

The fire was brought under control at around 11.20pm. Apart from destroying one of the apartments, the blaze damaged common areas and flats on the upper and lower floors.