by EuroNews
It’s published
•update
Cyprus firefighters on Thursday fought the country’s largest wildfires for over 50 years, killing two people, causing the destruction of homes and evacuation of dozens of villages.
Wildfires have scorched at least 120 square kilometers of land, and they have been the most destructive since the fire broke out during the Turkish military invasion of the island in July 1974. According to the Cyprus Forestry Bureau, approximately 260 square kilometers of land was burned in time.
This week’s wildfire, which broke out around noon on Wednesday, destroyed more than 1% of the island’s land.
Police found two bodies in a burnt-out car. Cyprus civil defense officials found one body inside the car on a main road between the hillside villages that were hit by fire Wednesday night, police first reported.
The second archaeological site was found in the same car on the shoulder of Monagliarassa Road on Thursday.
The two were evacuated to Nicosia General Hospital with major burns, and although the condition is not serious, it is considered uncritical, according to Health Services spokesman Charalambos Harilaou. Ten people were injured in total.
The fire also evacuated 14 villages along a 14-kilometer mountainous area.
The fire continues to be furious
It was announced that no active fires remained on Thursday morning, but some areas later showed a rekindled flare, which then spread later that day.
Additional wildfires broke out in the West Paphos area Thursday afternoon.
Kets said earlier in the day it was expected that strong winds would pick up, and combined with the intense heat could once again become extremely dangerous.
Many roads remain closed and civilian rescue is underway.
Kettis confirmed that “several homes had suffered significant damage,” and it was believed that at least 20 homes had been destroyed in the village of Lofou.
More than 250 firefighters had attempted to eliminate the flames as of Wednesday night.
The cause of the fire is under investigation
Cyprus government spokesman Constantinos Retinbiotis said the cause of the fire, which is still under investigation, refers to “unprecedented conditions” on the spread.
He rejected the proposal that the government had been “negligent” in its response, pointing out “temperatures, strong winds and drought” as factors that “advancing the situation and making it even more difficult.” He claimed that “from the first moment, all the plans and all the protocols created have been activated.”
Separately, chief firefighter Nikos Rosinos told public broadcaster CYBC that an eye witness who called firefighters reported that the arsonists had caused the fire at two separate points within 100 metres of each other in the landfill. He added that he provided evidence to police to assist with the investigation.
Support from overseas
Cyprus government spokesman Constantinos Retinbiotis said Nicosia had requested assistance from other countries.
Spain is sending two fire aircraft, and Jordan is providing assistance to two of its helicopters, he said.
It also supports British helicopters from one of the two British military bases on Cyprus, Letymbiotis added. Meanwhile, Israel announced it would send its own aircraft on Thursday evening.
