Two people were confirmed dead and hundreds were forced to evacuate as a massive wildfire ravaged southern Cyprus, engulfing homes and threatening entire communities during an intense heatwave.
The blaze erupted around midday on Wednesday in a wine-producing region north of the coastal city of Limassol, scorching at least 100 square kilometres (39 square miles) of land. By Thursday morning, several fronts of the fire were still active, and firefighting aircraft resumed operations at first light after an overnight pause.
Authorities discovered the bodies of two individuals inside a burned-out vehicle, believed to have been trapped by the flames. Police also reported that at least ten people sustained injuries, with two in serious condition.
As dawn broke, a red haze loomed over Limassol, where recent urban development has spread into the surrounding mountainous terrain. The full extent of the destruction remains unclear, and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
“We are talking about very strong winds, with gusts, which were constantly interchanging,” said fire brigade spokesperson Andreas Kettis.
The wildfire comes amid record temperatures on the island. On Wednesday, Cyprus recorded a high of 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit), prompting an amber weather alert. A fresh warning was issued for Thursday, with temperatures expected to climb to 44 degrees — the hottest of the year so far.
Cyprus has requested assistance through the European Union’s civil protection mechanism. Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed that Spain is expected to send two firefighting aircraft on Thursday, while Jordan has also offered support.
The island has been battling a prolonged drought, with water reserves dwindling to critically low levels. The affected area lies just north of the Kouris reservoir, the country’s largest, which was at only 15.5% of its capacity on Wednesday.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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