New weather warning for Monday, fires in Koshi, Nikitari and near Kykkos under control (update 4)

Scorching temperatures will continue through Monday, according to a new yellow warning from the met office.

It noted that on Sunday night the minimum temperature is expected to fall to around 26 degrees celsius inland, on the southeast and east coasts.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperature on Monday is expected to rise to around 40 degrees celsius again inland. The warning is valid from 10.00pm on Sunday evening until 6.00pm on Monday afternoon, the warning concluded.

On Sunday morning the met office issued a new yellow weather alert over extreme temperatures from 12:00 noon until 5.30pm, with the mercury expected to rise to 40 degrees celsius as police warned that outdoor activities that could cause a fire should be avoided.

The public was called on to avoid outdoor work that may cause a fire, including welding or using other equipment that causes sparks or flames as well as burning dry grass. Lighting fires in forests should be done in areas designated by the forestry department, police said.

“Lit cigarette butts and matches should not be disposed out of a car window or when in outdoor areas,” the announcement added, while urging the public to contact the citizen’s line on 1460 to provide information that could help prevent a fire or clarify its causes.

The statement came after a red warning for fires was issued by the forestry department for the weekend.

Fires that broke out in Koshi, the village of Nikitari and in Tsakkistra – close to Kykkos Monastery – in the Nicosia district were under full control on Sunday, the Forestry Department said in a statement.

The fire that broke out in the vicinity of the landfill in Koshi at 1.05pm was brought under complete control.

“The intervention of the forestry department firefighting forces was immediate, with the result that the fire was brought under control at 1.20pm, burning a small area with low wild vegetation” the Forestry Department said in a statement.

In Tsakkistra, close to Kykkos monastery, the fire started at 11.05am but was quickly brought under control at 11.35am, burning a small area with low wild vegetation, it is reported.

Thirteen people from the Forestry Department with 3 fire engines participated in the extinguishing operation. Two volunteer firefighters from the Holy Monastery of Kykkos assisted in the extinguishing effort.

Meanwhile, a the fire in Nikitari broke out at 10.25am on two different fronts in an area near the Asinou regional primary school. It is reported that the intervention of the forestry department firefighting forces was immediate, and as a result the fire was brought under control at 10.50am, burning a small area with low wild vegetation.

Eight firefighters from the Forestry Department using 3 fire engines and 2 firefighters from the Fire Service with 1 fire engine were deployed to the scene.

The exact causes of both fires are being investigated, the statement concluded.