A 30-year-old man is in critical condition at Nicosia general hospital after being injured in an explosion outside a metal warehouse in Sotira on Friday night.

Police said the man remains under close medical supervision following the blast, which occurred at around 9.20pm.

According to the police, officers were alerted after receiving reports of an explosion in the area.

The man was first taken to Famagusta general hospital for treatment, yet due to the severity of his injuries, doctors decided he required specialist care, and he was transferred to Nicosia general hospital, where police said he “is being treated in critical condition”.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been established, and police enquiries into the incident are ongoing.