NICOSIA: Cyprus is confronting one of the most devastating wildfires in its modern history, with at least 120 square kilometres of land scorched and two confirmed deaths. The fires, which erupted around midday on Wednesday, have ravaged the island’s countryside, destroying homes, injuring multiple people, and prompting the evacuation of more than a dozen mountain villages.
Firefighters, civil defence teams, and volunteers have been working around the clock in what authorities are calling the largest wildfire emergency since 1974, when more than 260 square kilometres of land burned during the Turkish invasion. This week’s blaze has already consumed just over 1% of the island’s total land mass.
Authorities confirmed the discovery of two bodies inside a charred vehicle found on a key road between the villages of Monagri and Alassa. The first body was located late Wednesday night, while the second was discovered Thursday morning on the same stretch of road. Police believe both were victims of the fast-moving inferno that engulfed surrounding communities with little warning.
Health officials reported that two people were evacuated to Nicosia General Hospital with serious burns, though their conditions are not believed to be life-threatening. In total, ten people have sustained injuries.
The fire forced the evacuation of 14 villages along a 14-kilometre mountainous corridor. Among the hardest hit was the village of Lofou, where at least 20 homes were reportedly destroyed. Despite a brief period on Thursday morning during which no active fires were reported, rekindling soon followed, and new blazes erupted in the western Paphos district by the afternoon. Strong winds and soaring temperatures continue to complicate containment efforts.
Over 250 firefighters are currently engaged in the firefighting operation, aided by 18 aircraft. Roads across the affected region remain closed, and emergency crews continue civilian rescues and damage assessments. Burned houses and blackened terrain have transformed once lush villages like Souni into scenes of destruction.
The cause of the fires is still under investigation. Government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis described the conditions as “unprecedented,” citing extreme heat, drought, and high winds as key contributors to the fire’s rapid spread. He firmly rejected any claims of government negligence, asserting that emergency protocols were activated “from the very first moment.”
Separately, Chief Fire Officer Nicos Logginos told national broadcaster CyBC that eyewitnesses had reported suspicious activity at a landfill, where the fire is believed to have started at two separate ignition points within 100 meters of each other. He confirmed that evidence of possible arson has been handed over to the police.
Cyprus has also appealed for international assistance. Spain has responded by sending two firefighting aircraft, and Jordan has committed two helicopters. A British helicopter stationed at one of the UK’s military bases on the island is assisting local efforts, while Israel has announced the dispatch of its own aerial support by Thursday evening.
As fires continue to smoulder and emergency teams race to contain flare-ups, the nation remains on high alert, facing a crisis that has already left a deep scar on its people, its landscape, and its sense of security.
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