Newsroom
Officials in Cyprus are investigating several fires that broke out at Pournara migrant facility in rural Nicosia, while an investigation into another blaze at apartment building in Larnaca was inconclusive after foreign nationals had to evacuate late at night.
According to local media, fire fighters on Wednesday night were called to the migrant facility in Pournara where several grass fires had broken out just outside the barbed wire fence.
Police did not comment on the evening fires but confirmed another fire had taken place at the center earlier that morning, when six asylum seekers were transported to the hospital after suffering burns.
According to police, a regular tent and a canvas camping tent were destroyed in the fire on facility premises before being put out by security guards.
Pournara has been in the news this week after local officials told a House Census committee that residents in the Kokkinotrimithia area were unhappy with asylum seekers who were crowding the area.
A day earlier another late night fire forced the evacuation of foreign nationals who were residing in an apartment building in Larnaca.
The fire broke out just before 10pm on the third floor and destroyed an apartment, while residents had to be evacuated.
Police along with fire department officials and electromechanical engineers inspected the scene but failed to identify the cause of the fire.
According to a preliminary finding the cause of the fire was listed as “inconclusive” while police told Knews nothing had been ruled out, including criminal activity.
