A fire broke out in a Paphos home in the early hours of Sunday morning, with three tenants hospitalised for minor breathing problems.

The flames began at around 2am at a ground-floor home in Pano Akourdalia.

Fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said two fire trucks were deployed to the scene. The living room sustained damages while the three tenants were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Authorities have since determined the flames began from the fireplace. The mother woke up due to difficulty breathing and after hearing strange sounds.

She managed to escape along with her husband and daughter who lived in the rental.