A fire broke out at a Larnaca apartment bloc in the early hours of Saturday morning, causing a child to be taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

Fire services spokesman Andreas Kettis said the child’s admission was only for precautionary measures but the entire four-floor building had to be evacuated with first aid staff on site.

Three fire trucks were deployed to the scene and it appears the flames began in a pile of waste left on the second floor that extended to the air shaft.

The fire then spread across the building, burning numerous wooden front-doors in different apartments.

Flames then spread to common areas, multiple apartments and the masonry of the building.

Police also aided with evacuating tenants from the building. A woman and child received first aid, and the latter went to Larnaca hospital for precautionary reasons.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.