Deadly Wildfire Sweeps Through Cyprus Amid Searing Heat and Strong Winds
Two people have died as a wildfire ravages areas outside Limassol, with authorities reporting multiple simultaneous blazes and extreme heat conditions.
In the midst of a scorching heatwave, Cyprus is grappling with devastating wildfires that have claimed two lives and left several others injured.
The inferno, fueled by strong winds and temperatures forecast to reach 44°C, erupted on Wednesday afternoon near Limassol, the country's second-largest city, according to authorities.The police reported finding two charred bodies inside a car that was engulfed by the flames in the Malia village area.
Government officials expressed profound sorrow over these tragic losses and acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the ongoing wildfires, which have resulted in multiple simultaneous blazes across the island.
Additionally, 16 individuals were treated for minor injuries, while two others with severe burns were admitted to a hospital.The fire service disclosed that the wildfire has already consumed nearly 100 square kilometers (approximately 40 square miles) of land.
Although there are no active fronts in the fire, intense flare-ups continue to threaten the affected regions.
In response to the crisis, authorities have issued an extreme heat alert for Cyprus as temperatures peak.
Over 250 firefighters and 75 vehicles have been deployed to combat the blaze.The Cypriot government has requested assistance from neighboring countries, including Jordan and Spain, which have pledged support by sending firefighting aircraft.
Israel confirmed it would send a military aircraft later on Thursday to aid in the firefighting efforts against the island's devastating fires.
Furthermore, 106 individuals were forced to seek temporary accommodations after several villages were evacuated due to the advancing flames.The severity of the situation has led to concerns that numerous homes may have been damaged or destroyed, with 16 communities currently without electricity for essential amenities like air conditioning and refrigeration in the sweltering heat.
A resident from Kandou village recounted a harrowing experience where he witnessed the mountain and valley engulfed by flames: "I cried, really I cried, because people got burnt, and someone got burnt while in his car." These accounts highlight both the immediate danger faced by those affected and the emotional toll of such disasters.Cyprus faces wildfires almost annually during its summer months due to the hot and dry climate.
In 2021, a wildfire in Larnaca district resulted in the tragic loss of four Egyptian farmworkers.
The inferno, fueled by strong winds and temperatures forecast to reach 44°C, erupted on Wednesday afternoon near Limassol, the country's second-largest city, according to authorities.The police reported finding two charred bodies inside a car that was engulfed by the flames in the Malia village area.
Government officials expressed profound sorrow over these tragic losses and acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the ongoing wildfires, which have resulted in multiple simultaneous blazes across the island.
Additionally, 16 individuals were treated for minor injuries, while two others with severe burns were admitted to a hospital.The fire service disclosed that the wildfire has already consumed nearly 100 square kilometers (approximately 40 square miles) of land.
Although there are no active fronts in the fire, intense flare-ups continue to threaten the affected regions.
In response to the crisis, authorities have issued an extreme heat alert for Cyprus as temperatures peak.
Over 250 firefighters and 75 vehicles have been deployed to combat the blaze.The Cypriot government has requested assistance from neighboring countries, including Jordan and Spain, which have pledged support by sending firefighting aircraft.
Israel confirmed it would send a military aircraft later on Thursday to aid in the firefighting efforts against the island's devastating fires.
Furthermore, 106 individuals were forced to seek temporary accommodations after several villages were evacuated due to the advancing flames.The severity of the situation has led to concerns that numerous homes may have been damaged or destroyed, with 16 communities currently without electricity for essential amenities like air conditioning and refrigeration in the sweltering heat.
A resident from Kandou village recounted a harrowing experience where he witnessed the mountain and valley engulfed by flames: "I cried, really I cried, because people got burnt, and someone got burnt while in his car." These accounts highlight both the immediate danger faced by those affected and the emotional toll of such disasters.Cyprus faces wildfires almost annually during its summer months due to the hot and dry climate.
In 2021, a wildfire in Larnaca district resulted in the tragic loss of four Egyptian farmworkers.
