Cyprus forest fire cause evacuation of villages

Six villages in a mountainous region between the coastal towns of Larnaca and Limassol were evacuated.

"It has not been contained and police ordered the evacuation of villages in the area," fire brigade spokeswoman Lisa Kemidjis told Reuters.

It was not immediately clear how many people were evacuated, but most communities in the region were relatively small, she said.

Helicopters from British military bases in Cyprus were assisting firefighters, backed up by the army and volunteers, and Greece was expected to send aircraft later on Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze, which started before dawn and quickly spread, fanned by winds and tinder box conditions from a dry winter.