A huge forest fire is sweeping through southwest Cyprus today, threatening holiday homes on the parched island.
Fire fighters say the blaze is being kept away from residential areas but that at least three holiday homes have been badly damaged.
A firefighter sprays water onto a fire near on the outskirts of Akapnou village, 40 km southwest of Nicosia
Helicopters from British military bases in Cyprus are assisting local firefighters and Greece is expected to send aircraft later today.
It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze, which started before dawn and quickly spread through the mountainous region between the coastal cities of Larnaca and Limassol.
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Cyprus is experiencing one of its worst droughts on record and plans to start importing water from Greece this month.