Newsroom
Four firefighters have received medical treatment after battling the massive factory fire that continues to burn through the Aradippou Industrial Area, as emergency crews race to stop the flames from spreading to nearby businesses.
According to the Fire Service, the firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation, and dizziness while taking part in the large-scale operation.
In a positive development, authorities have confirmed that all employees who were working at the factory have been accounted for. Following statements from staff, officials said everyone had left the premises when the fire broke out, easing earlier fears that people may have been trapped inside.
The blaze, which erupted around midday at a refrigerator manufacturing factory, has now spread throughout the entire building.
Fire Service spokesman Andreas Kettis said the intense heat generated by the fire has made the operation particularly challenging, with flames engulfing the factory as crews focus on preventing the blaze from reaching neighboring industrial units.
Seven fire engines are at the scene, supported by a hydraulic telescopic platform, a breathing apparatus vehicle, and specialist crews from Larnaca, Nicosia, the Vasilikos Fire Station, and the Emergency Response Unit (EMAK). A Forestry Department water tanker has also been deployed to assist firefighters.
The Larnaca District Fire Station Commander has been coordinating operations from the scene since the early stages of the emergency, while the chief fire officer is overseeing the response from the fire service's crisis management center.
A forward command post has been established at the site, with ambulance crews and labor inspection department officials also dispatched as a precaution.
Police remain in the area to manage traffic and secure the industrial zone while firefighters continue working to bring the blaze under control.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and will be investigated once it is safe for investigators to enter the building.
Thick black smoke continues to hang over parts of Larnaca, with authorities urging the public to avoid the area while the emergency operation remains underway.
