Firefighters from both sides helped brings a fire that broke out on Saturday afternoon near the buffer zone in Dherynia under partial control.

“[It] has been contained and there remains a spot that is difficult to reach with acacia trees between the barricades,” fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said.

Strong winds are hindering firefighting efforts, he added.

Meanwhile, Derynia’s crossing point, which was closed due to the fire, will remain closed until competent authorities decide to reopen it to traffic.

The blaze destroyed 100,000m² of wild-vegetation, dry grass and waste materials in the government-controlled areas and buffer zone. No details were immediately available about how much was burned in the occupied areas, Kettis said.

He added that forces will remain in the area to deal with possible flare-ups.

Despite it being in the buffer zone, the fire department responded to the fire around 1pm with five engines from Famagusta and Xylophagou stations, Kettis said.

It appears the blaze started in the government-controlled areas, near Famagusta’s cultural centre.

Members of the United Nations and an excavator were present at the scene, assisting the firefighters’ efforts, as well as fire engines from the north.

Derynia Mayor Andros Karayiannis said the fire spread to the right side of the barricades.

“In some parts of the area where the buffer zone is located, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were trying to put out the fire from both sides.”

The fire also spread in an area that was inaccessible, where there is barbed wire and in some minefields, which this made it difficult for the fire service to extinguish the fire.

But after about two and a half hours, the fire seems to be under control, the mayor said.

“The grain that the farmers of the area harvested a few days ago acted as a combustible material for the rapid spread of the fire,” he said.