Cyprus Mail 27 June 2021 - by Katy Turner
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| Photo: The Kennedys Photography and Film |
Two houses were destroyed and two damaged by the fire in Tala on Saturday, officials said on Sunday as estimates of damage began after instructions given by Interior Minister Nicos Nourris, Paphos District Officer Mary Lambrou said.
She said that one car was also destroyed by the flames.
The people living in the destroyed homes have been temporarily taken to hotels, she added.
A team of officers from the technical services of the district office will record damages to buildings and property in the area based on the instructions given by the interior ministry.
A similar evaluation is set to start from Monday to assess the damage to vegetation.
In a written statement, Fire Service spokesman Andreas Kettis said the efforts of firemen on Saturday to put out the blaze were painful.
Preliminary examinations show that the fire started from sparks from electricity cables that fell to the ground. High winds in the area at the time caused the cables to touch each other.
The fire was brought under control at about 8pm on Saturday and burnt wild plants, damaging some vehicles and homes according to Kettis. He said that two square kilometres of plants and trees had burned.
The fire also damaged electricity poles.
He said fire officials remained on site throughout the night to make sure the fire did not restart.
The fire broke out shortly before 3pm on Saturday afternoon and was brought under control with the help of seven aircraft from the forestry department and the government plus two from the British Bases in addition to fire engines from Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca.
With a yellow weather warning in place until 5pm on Sunday the chance of forest fires breaking out through the day is said to be high.
