The fire brigade responded to 78 calls for help across Cyprus between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning, including 13 flood-related incidents as storms affected several districts.
In an announcement issued on Thursday, the fire brigade said it had responded to incidents in Nicosia, Larnaca and Paphos, including flooded basements, blocked rainwater drainage systems and fallen trees.
Crews also dealt with sparks from electricity lines and a tree that had caught fire. In one incident, a person was trapped in a car on a flooded road and had to be freed.
District authority crews assisted the fire brigade in dealing with the storm-related incidents.
Flat fire in Latsia
The fire brigade was called to a fire in a first-floor flat in Latsia, Nicosia, at 7.04am on Wednesday.
The fire started after a pan was left unattended and spread to wooden fittings in the kitchen. Firefighters brought it under control at 7.27am.
Two people were inside the flat when the fire broke out. One of them was assisted out by firefighters.
Vehicle catches fire on Limassol-Nicosia highway
At 5.47pm on Wednesday, the fire brigade responded to a vehicle fire on the Limassol-Nicosia highway, shortly before the Moni exit.
The fire was brought under control at 6.18pm. It reportedly started after the vehicle struck the protective barrier.
The driver managed to escape without being injured, but the vehicle sustained extensive damage.
Police temporarily closed part of the highway because of thick smoke from the fire. They are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
78 calls in 24 hours
Between 6am on Wednesday and 6am on Thursday, the fire brigade handled:
- 27 fires
- 46 special service calls, including the 13 flood-related incidents
- Five false alarms
The total came to 78 calls for help over the 24-hour period.
Also read: Nearly 10,000 lightning strikes hit Cyprus in just a few hours
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