Southern Cyprus asks regional countries to help fight forest fire

By Mehmet Kemal Firik

LEFKOSA (AA) - The Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus on Sunday asked regional countries to help fight the ongoing forest fire near the village of Alasa in Limassol.

According to local media reports, the forest fire that broke out on Thursday and was extinguished has erupted again.

While the efforts to extinguish the fire, which spread due to the winds and threatened some settlements, continued from the air and land, Konstantinos Letimbiotis, a government spokesperson, said that the Foreign Ministry has requested Israel, Lebanon, Egypt and Greece for assistance.

Local media also reported that three helicopters sent by Jordan actively participated in the fight against the forest fire, and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

After the fire started, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Friday offered assistance to the Greek Cypriot administration through the UN, and the Greek Cypriot side stated that there was no need for help because the fire was extinguished and conveyed its thanks to the TRNC.