A body was found in the remains of a polyurethane manufacturing plant in the Larnaca district village of Dromolaxia in which a large fire had broken out on Sunday.

A total of five people were known to be inside the factory when the fire broke out, and four had initially been accounted for. It is thus believed that the body found belonged to the fifth person.

The police said it was not possible to remove the body from the scene on Sunday evening due to fears over the building’s structural integrity. It is expected that the body will be removed on Monday once it has been established that it is safe to do so.

Fire brigade spokesman Andreas Kettis said earlier on Sunday evening that the fire was fully under control, and that firefighters would remain at the scene throughout the night

At the same time, he said government agencies and the factories are now carrying out the necessary procedures to ensure the building’s structural integrity and the state of the dangerous materials which were stored on its premises.

Additionally, he said, investigations have been launched to determine the fire’s cause.

He had earlier said a total of eight fire engines had been deployed to the plant, and added that there was a “huge thermal load” in the fire.

He said an “extra effort” is being made to contain it, and that work had been done with the aim of ensuring that neighbouring properties were protected from any potential spread.

Despite this, he said the plant itself has suffered “extensive damage”, and that oil and gas tanks in its vicinity are being cooled.

Roads surrounding the plant were also closed due to the potential risk of explosions.