At least four people have been killed in a huge forest fire in Cyprus, which the head of the country's forestry department said was the "worst forest fire in the history of Cyprus." 

The four people found on Sunday are believed to be Egyptian nationals, who were reported missing on Saturday. They were found close to a burned out car, according to local newspaper reports. 

The fire is at least 50 kilometres-square in the Troodos mountains, and has affected at least 10 communities so far. 

The bodies were found near Odou, a town north of Limassol and Larnaca. 

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

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President Nicos Anastasiades said it was a "tragedy" in a tweet on Saturday, adding that authorities "will not leave anyone abandoned in the destruction of the fire." 

The European Commission said it had sent fire-fighting planes from neighboring Greece to help battle the fire. Italy is also planning to send firefighters, according to the Commission. 

The cause of the fire, which started around midday on Saturday, remains unclear but the weather could be a contributing factor, with temperatures in recent days exceeding 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). 

Police said they were questioning a 67-year-old person in connection with the blaze.