A fire was raging on Thursday in Kyrenia district in the north, burning a forested area.

Turkish Cypriot media said the blaze is in Tziklos area, at the height of Pentadaktylos mountain range, on the road from Nicosia to Kyrenia.

They also reported residents in a panic but that the fire had already been placed under control.

The road had been temporarily closed to traffic and efforts are still being made to put it out.

A helicopter was also assisting firefighters in an area difficult to get to.

Kyrenia mayor Murat Şenkul has called on the public to send water tankers and heavy equipment to contain the fire.

In June 1995, a fire broke out along Pentadaktylos and burned for four days.

The fire raged from Exi Mili west of Kyrenia to Bellapais east of Kyrenia, destroying 20km of forested area.