Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-06-29

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - TROODOS RANGE - BLAZE

[01] CYPRUS - TROODOS RANGE - BLAZE

The fire broke out at around 1300 local time (1000 GMT) and remains out of control, razing the pine-covered Troodos range.

President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, cancelled his schedule for the day and is now on his way to the Crisis Management Center in the affected areas.

At the same time, Cyprus appealed for outside help to contain the forest fire and tonight one aircraft from Italy is expected to assist the Cypriot authorities, as well as an aircraft from Israel.

The fire is threatening villages, homes, restaurants, churches, holiday homes and summer camps, as a heatwave is striking the island for the seventh day.

Already, the villages of Pelendri, Saitas, Trimiklini, Kato Amiantos and Dimes are being evacuated with the help of the Police and the Civil Defense Unit.

The fire is uncontrollable and causes fear, a spokesman of the Cyprus Fire Service Unit has said, describing the fire as the worst that has ever broken out on the island.

According to the Forest Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, the fire was caused by high tension cables of the Cyprus Electricity Authority.

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