Fires in Limassol district and Nicosia under control (Updated)

Fires which broke out in Limassol and Nicosia on Monday were brought under control by the evening.

Four helicopters and several fire engines were scrambled to extinguish a fire on Monday evening at the Sylikou community in Limassol.

The fire started around 5.30pm in dry grass and wild vegetation near a river, and was brought under partial control two hours later, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis tweeted.

The fire destroyed about five hectares of dry grass, wild vegetation and several pine trees.

The area is very hard to access, Kettis said, which made fire-fighting efforts harder.

He said that firefighters would remain in the area to prevent any flare-ups.

The forest department had also joined efforts to extinguish the fire.

The causes of the fire are being investigated, Kettis added.

Another Limassol fire that broke out in Chandria area a few minutes before 5pm was also brought under control in about 30 minutes, said the forest department.

Two fire engines from the fire and forest department worked to extinguish the blaze.

Earlier in the afternoon, one car was destroyed and two houses in Aglandjia were damaged after a fire broke out in a closed parking in between them, Kettis said.

The fire also damaged a boiler room and a fuel tank. Five fire engines helped to extinguish the blaze.

No injuries were reported, Kettis said, adding that the causes of the fire will be investigated on Tuesday.