Fire fighters responding to a fire at building in central Nicosia early on Wednesday morning found the body of woman, Philenews has reported.
It said that the fire service and police were called to Costakis Pantelides street off Eleftheria Square to respond to a fire at a café. The fire broke out on the ground floor of the three-storey building.
While tackling the blaze, fire fighters found the body of a woman on the first floor.
Some residents managed to evacuate the building before the arrival of fire fighters. The woman was on the first floor which had filled with smoke.
Fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis told Radio Active that there was an explosion. Authorities are trying to determine whether the explosion preceded the fire.
He said investigations were underway and nothing was being ruled out.
