A raging forest fire has forced the evacuation of six villages in southwest Cyprus.
The island authorities had to use scarce water reserves and to call in reinforcements from Greece to battle the blaze.
Six villages in the Troodos mountains between the coastal towns of Larnaca and Limassol were evacuated.
It was not immediately clear how many people were evacuated, but most communities in the region are relatively small.
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.
Cyprus is experiencing one of its worst droughts on record and had planned to start importing water from Greece this month.
