A number of people from the Kaimakli area in north Nicosia were evacuated on Thursday night after a fire broke out at the Turkish Cypriot main laboratory.
The fire saw thick smoke – said to contain harmful chemicals – billowing out of the laboratory prompting police and fire service officers to call on the area being evacuated. The fire was eventually contained.
Witnesses described seeing people rushing away from the area as thick smoke covered the area.
The head of the Health Office, Faiz Sucuoglu, had previously warned members of the public to avoid going to the area especially individuals with breathing difficulties or the elderly.
He added that localised showers in the area helped to clear air in the area despite warning people living close to the laboratory to avoid going out in the rain.
The workers at the laboratory had already gone home when the fire broke out.