Fire fighters battle Kornos blaze

A LARGE fire that broke out near the village of Lefkara was mostly contained by late yesterday, with authorities remaining on standby for a possible resurgence.

The blaze erupted on a mountain slope next to the Kornos-Delikipos-Lefkara road shortly after 3pm.

Around 20 fire engines were deployed to battle the flames. In total, four firefighting choppers (two provided by the British Bases) joined the effort, assisted by the Forestry Department’s plane.

Eyewitnesses said they saw aircraft making passes every 30 minutes.

Also taking part in the operations were police, the National Guard, the Games Department and EMAK (Special Rescue Squad).

According to initial reports, the fire began from a carob tree, swelling rapidly to a huge blaze within the space of a few minutes.

Other unconfirmed reports said that officers were seen removing a petrol canister from the site.

The precise cause of the fire has yet to be established.

Justice Minister Sophocles Sophocleous, who rushed to the scene, said it was too early to “start blaming anyone”.

According to Fire Department spokesman Lisa Kemidji, the fire had lain waste to a little over one square kilometres of wild vegetation.

She said that by 7pm authorities had managed to “encircle” the front.

The fire did not threaten a nearby army camp with an ammunition depot, she said.

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