Overview

• The blaze has killed two people and prompted the evacuation of 14 villages, with evacuees housed in temporary shelters across the Limassol foothills.
• Authorities report no fully active fronts but warn that gale-force winds continue to stoke flare-ups across roughly 100 sq km of scorched mountainous terrain.
• Containment efforts involve more than 250 firefighters, 75 ground vehicles and up to 14 aircraft contributed by Spain, Jordan, the UK and other EU partners.
• Extreme heat reaching 44 °C and a severe drought that has depleted the Kouris reservoir to 15.5% capacity fuelled the wildfire’s rapid spread.
• An official investigation is underway to determine whether the wildfire was deliberately ignited, as Cyprus calls for enhanced prevention and readiness measures.