Fires in Nicosia and Paphos destroy supermarket and municipal Christmas tree

Two fires broke out in the early hours of Wednesday morning, in Nicosia and Paphos, destroying premises and property.

In Nicosia, a supermarket on Famagusta Avenue in Aglandjia was destroyed by a fire that broke out around 2.30am.

According to the police, the fire was extinguished by the fire services and investigations are underway at the scene to determine whether the incident involved a criminal act or was due to another cause.

Meanwhile in Paphos, a fire that broke out at 3.15am burned to the ground the municipality’s 12m high Christmas tree on Kennedy Square, hung with 17,000 lights and hundreds of baubles.

The city’s fire services extinguished the blaze before it spread, however the tree was destroyed.

The scene has been cordoned off while authorities, in collaboration with the electromechanical service, are investigating the fire’s cause.