The European Union on Saturday deployed airplanes and a satellite to help Cyprus contain a huge forest fire raging north of the cities of Limassol and Larnaca, a blaze one official described as the worst in the country's history.

Fanned by strong winds, the blaze affected at least six communities in the foothills of the Troodos mountain range, an area of pine forest and densely vegetated shrubland.

At least seven villages were evacuated in the face of the raging fire.

Dozens of properties were damaged, but no injuries were reported. There were widespread power cuts in the area. Plumes of smoke were visible in the capital Nicosia, some 75 kilometers away.

"It is the worst forest fire in the history of Cyprus," Forestries Department Director Charalambos Alexandrou told Cyprus's Omega TV.

Alexandrou said the perimeter of the fire was "at least 40 kilometers."

Planes and satellites mobilized

The EU's executive, the European Commission, said firefighting planes had departed from Greece to battle the fire, and Italy was also planning to deploy aerial fire-fighters.

The EU's emergency Copernicus satellite was also activated to provide damage assessment maps of the affected areas, the Commission said in a statement.

Attempts were being made to prevent the blaze from crossing the mountains and stop it before reaching Machairas, pine forestland and one of the highest peaks in Cyprus.

Officials said that in addition to Greece's assistance with two aircraft, help was also expected from Israel.

"This is a very difficult day for Cyprus. All of the state's mechanisms are in gear, and the priority is for no loss of life," Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades tweeted.

According to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Israel accepted the plea for help and will send firefighting aircraft to Cyprus on Sunday.

The cause of the fire, which started around midday, was unclear. Cyprus has experienced a heatwave this week, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Police said they were questioning a 67-year-old person in connection with the blaze.

"It passed through like a whirlwind, it destroyed everything," said Vassos Vassiliou, head of the community Arakapas, one of the communities affected.

(With input from Reuters)