The fire brigade’s report on the fire which killed a family of five in Limassol last weekend is set to be submitted to the police on Monday, fire brigade spokesman Andreas Kettis said on Thursday.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), he said the cause of the fire thus far “remains unknown” and that the extensive damage caused to the house in which the fire broke out has made the investigation “even more difficult”.

“The findings remain unknown because nothing tangible was found that we can say with certainty that this is the case … It was a complete disaster,” he said.

He also said the fire brigade cannot rule out the possibility of the fire having broken out due to an electrical problem, saying that confirming this is the responsibility of the electromechanical service.

Meanwhile, the electromechanical service’s report into the fire was submitted to the police on Wednesday, though deputy director Pavlos Yiavris was coy over its details.

“The report has been duly delivered to the police. The department will not make any statement about it. The report has been given confidentially to the police, who are responsible for forwarding it to the Limassol fire brigade so that they can use it for their own further investigations,” he told CNA.

The fire broke out in a residential property shortly after 4am on Saturday morning, with a 35-year-old father, a 32-year-old mother and their children, aged seven, three, and two years old, who lived in the house all dying.

Authorities found the bodies in the children’s bedrooms and believe the parents were trying to help them.

The Limassol municipality announced that it would fully cover the funeral costs for all five victims, expressing its “deepest sorrow” over the incident.

“The entire city is mourning the loss of the family and our thoughts are with their loved ones. From the first moment, our municipality’s competent services, in collaboration with the central government, have been by the side of the victims’ family, providing all the possible support,” it said.

It added that temporary housing has already been secured for the other people who lived in the building, while also pointing out the wider factors relating to the tragedy.

“This tragic incident highlights issues related to living conditions, building safety, and the general housing crisis facing Limassol. The city faces serious challenges in terms of affordable housing, the safety of older buildings and access for vulnerable groups to decent living conditions,” it said.

On this matter, it said a frank discussion on housing policy “cannot wait any longer, as it is a matter of dignity, safety, quality of life, and social justice”.