A fire that broke out on the terrace of a second-floor apartment in Paralimni on Wednesday caused extensive damage to two flats after spreading through the building, while all residents escaped safely without requiring hospital treatment.

The blaze is now under control after firefighters responded with four fire engines to the apartment complex.

Fire brigade spokesman Andreas Kettis said the fire began on the veranda of a second-floor apartment before spreading inside, causing extensive damage.

Burning debris then fell onto the terrace of a ground floor apartment, igniting a second fire which also spread indoors.

A woman and her two children, who were inside the second-floor apartment where the fire started, escaped safely after a member of the public forced open the entrance door before firefighters arrived.

A resident of a first-floor apartment also left the building safely, while the ground floor apartment damaged by the fire was unoccupied at the time.

The blaze also caused damage to equipment on the terrace of a neighbouring second floor apartment.

Earlier in the incident, firefighters rescued a person with mobility difficulties from an apartment opposite the affected properties after smoke entered the building.

An ambulance attended the scene as a precaution, but none of the residents required medical treatment beyond examinations carried out at the scene.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and the fire brigade has assured a full investigation will begin once conditions allow.