Blaze threat to expat village

Residents of Tala village in the Paphos district were forced to fight for their homes with their hosepipes as a blazing fire threatened the whole area yesterday.

The fire broke out at around 4pm yesterday and threatened to engulf the whole residential area of Tala village. Television and radio installations were damaged by the fire raging between Tala and Ayios Neophytos,villages, interrupting transmission in the area.

All members of the Paphos Fire Service were called to the scene along with two fire-fighting helicopters, the rapid emergency unit EMAK, the Gaming Department, any other officers available and all residents who were able to assist.

Tala is mostly populated by British expats. One was seen using his garden hosepipe to water the area near his residence in readiness of the flames.

The fire, which posed a huge threat to all the houses, was eventually put under control at around 7pm yesterday.

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