Pentalia blaze brought under control (update 3)

A blaze around the village of Pentalia, Paphos district, had been placed under partial control before nightfall on Thursday, while firefighters remained on standby in case of flare-ups.

The fire was brought under control shortly after 7pm, some five hours after it had started.

Fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said the blaze burned through 1.2 square km of wild shrub, trees, orchards, and also affected some greenhouses.

At one point firefighters had to intervene to prevent the flames from reaching a local monastery.

Helicopters and personnel from the fire service’s special rescue unit joined the effort, as strong winds and the rugged terrain made things difficult for firefighters.

Kettis said the precise causes of the fire would be investigated at a later stage.