Cyprus says huge forest fire contained
Date: 05-Aug-02
Country: CYPRUS
The blaze had razed at least 10 square km of trees and shrubland in the south of the Mediterranean holiday island after starting simultaneously in several areas on Thursday.
"We have it surrounded," fire chief George Hadjigeorgiou told Cyprus radio.
Six helicopters were dumping bucketloads of water on the area until late Thursday and three of them resumed the operation at first light on Friday.
British military helicopters which helped in the effort on Thursday were not required, authorities said.
Police said they were questioning a group of youths in connection with the fire after being spotted in the area, north of the port city of Limassol, moments before it started.
Forest fires are not uncommon in Cyprus, where temperatures can reach over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer months. The island has been sweltering in a heat-wave with temperatures peaking at 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) since Monday.
