Larnaca church damaged by fire

A CHURCH in Larnaca was yesterday damaged by a fire broke that broke out in the early hours.

The cleaning lady at the Ayios Nicolaos church spotted the fire a little after 8am yesterday, when she saw it rapidly spread across part of the church.

Initial investigations have shown that a short-circuit in the air-conditioning system was to blame.

It took four fire-fighting vehicles to extinguish the fire. The Head of Larnaca’s Fire Services, Ezekiel Papadopoulos, said firemen then had to air the church, as it had filled with thick black smoke.

Religious icons and part of the Holy Altar were destroyed, as well as a number of other religious items. The smoke also damaged some of the church’s other icons.

The church has announced that there will be no service this Sunday, until the damage has been restored.

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