wildfire — A major wildfire is raging in agricultural land between the communities of Koili and Stroumbi in the Paphos district. The fire broke out for reasons still unknown but is spreading rapidly due to strong winds, prompting an intense mobilisation of firefighting forces.
Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com
Fire engines from Paphos and surrounding rural stations have rushed to the scene, supported by crews from the Department of Forests and local community authorities. As the situation escalated, additional firefighting forces from various districts were deployed to assist.
Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com
Three aircraft, including two planes and a Civil Defence helicopter, were initially involved in making water drops but ceased operations after a few hours. According to the Fire Service, the blaze is developing in a river gorge that presents significant challenges for ground forces.
With communities at risk, Civil Defence and police have been put on standby for possible evacuations of Koili and Stroumbi. A forward control centre has been established in the Stroumbi community square, where various emergency services, including the army and police, are coordinating their efforts. Fire Service spokesperson Andreas Kettis noted that there is an active front heading west towards the northwest, with many firefighting resources dispatched to tackle the flames.
The fire has consumed approximately one square kilometre of land, affecting areas with dry grass, wild vegetation, and trees. Strong winds have hampered firefighting efforts, particularly on the front between Koili and Akoursos, where the fire is raging out of control.
Simultaneously, a smaller fire is reported in the Turkish Cypriot village of Pitargou, which is expected to be brought under control soon. Andreas Gregoriou, the director general of the Agriculture Ministry, visited the control centre shortly after 7pm to assess the situation and determine necessary actions for the night or the following day.
Koili community leader Michalis Efthymiou stated that bulldozers are actively battling the flames, while fire engines struggle to access the site due to its inaccessibility. The fire, which began around 10:00 on Sunday morning, has devastated cypress forests that have stood for many years. However, he reassured residents that homes in both communities are currently not at risk.
Efthymiou suggested that more aircraft should have been deployed, expressing concern over the limited aerial resources available. He attributed the cause of the fire to human activity, suggesting that it was likely started by someone on foot, as vehicles cannot approach the specific area where the fire erupted. He also described the outbreak of fires in November as an unprecedented phenomenon, noting that high temperatures contributed to the situation.
