Cyprus asked fellow European Union nations on Saturday to help battle a huge forest fire in a mountainous region of the east Mediterranean island nation that has forced the evacuation of at least seven villages.
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Cypriot Environment Minister Costas Kadis told state broadcaster CyBC the fire had claimed "huge tracts of the forest" and private property near the village of Arakapas in the Troodos mountain range.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said on Twitter that this was "a very difficult day for Cyprus" and that the "entire state apparatus" has been mobilized to assist in fighting the blaze, which strong winds have fanned across multiple fronts in difficult, hilly terrain.
"The main priority is to avoid any loss of life," said Anastasiades.
News reports showed homes going up in flames and massive plumes of brown smoke blotting out the sun. Arakapas residents who helped fire crews battle the fire told the CyBC the fire moved much too quickly through forested areas to be brought under control.
The fire has cut power to at least eight villages.
Cyprus government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said Greece was sending two firefighting planes, and Israel has also dispatched two aircraft. He said another four aircraft have been requested through the EU's civil protection mechanism.
Pelekanos said fire crews would remain on duty throughout the night when winds are expected to die down, easing firefighting efforts.
He said Cypriot National Guard drones were mapping the entire expanse of the blaze to identify which fronts fire crews would prioritize, and authorities would provide accommodation to people who lost their homes.
Greek official Nicholas Hardalias posted on his Twitter account that Greece "stands by Cyprus" and that two Canadair CL-415 were on their way.
Civil Defense official Olivia Michaelidou told the state-run Cyprus News Agency another two aircraft were expected to arrive from Italy.
Four Cypriot firefighting planes were joined by helicopters from the Cypriot National Guard, Cyprus Police, and British forces based at two UK military bases on the island to help beat back the fire in remote areas ground crews had difficulty reaching.
A Cypriot National Guard spokesman said army water tankers had also been enlisted to assist firefighters.
Fire Service spokesman Andreas Kettis said the entire Cypriot Fire Department had been mobilized with all off-duty firefighters called back into service to help.
Police said they had arrested a 67-year-old man in connection with the fire.
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