Remand for Pyrgos fire

A 25-year-old man was remanded for five days at Limassol district court on Sunday in connection with a fire at the Pyrgos community on Saturday.

The fire began an hour before the blaze in Arakapa which firefighters were still battling on Sunday spanning over 35km and resulted in the death of four people as well as dozens of people who were forced to evacuate their homes.

The man was arrested after police secured an eyewitness who saw the suspect’s vehicle leaving the area.

A patrol car stopped the 25-year-old’s vehicle on Amathoundos avenue and found two plastic containers that had a strong smell of flammable material as well as a box of matches.

Under questioning, the suspect said “I made a mistake” and claimed the fire started from a cigarette butt he threw on dry vegetation and he tried to obliterate the flames unsuccessfully.