Thursday, July 24, 08:00 – A huge out-of-control wildfire is underway in Cyprus, fanned by strong winds and temperatures of 45°C forecast for today.

The fire started on Wednesday afternoon, spreading rapidly and destroying settlements and threatening many communities. Currently, the situation is very difficult as the fire front is huge and has already destroyed dozens of homes, burning so far an estimated 100 square kilometres.

Four villages in the southern Limasol area have been evacuated, with many homes under serious threat.  Measures are underway to allow residents of the village of Lofou, located 26 km northwest of Limassol, to evacuate as the village has been cut off by the fire.

Personnel from the British military bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are assisting the local firefighting forces.

During the night, homes and businesses in the communities of Souni and Zanakia were destroyed. The first fatalities have been confirmed, with two bodies being discovered in a burned-out vehicle, and dozens injured, two seriously.

Cyprus has been suffering from a prolonged drought, with water reserves down to critically low levels.

Update 14:30 – Although at present there are no active fronts, there are intense resurgences driven by the strong winds that are hampering efforts to gain overall control of the situation. The fear now is that the resurgences that exist will spread into new active fronts.

Supporting the considerable ground forces are 13 firefighting aircraft, with a further aircraft coordinating the efforts over a wide area.

Update 20:00 – The fires, which are mostly flare-ups, continue this evening. It has been confirmed that the bodies found in a burnt-out car were those of an elderly local couple, while over 70 people have been injured.

Firefighting aircraft from Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Spain are on their way to help battle the huge wildfire.

Thursday, July 25 – No active fronts are ongoing, although in the extreme weather conditions today of strong winds and temperatures reaching 45°C, there is considerable fear that major flare-ups will break out. Therefore, the Fire Department is focusing the extensive firefighting personnel on hand and all logistical resources on reacting immediately to any possible resurgence.

The wildfire has been a huge personal and ecological disaster with two fatalities, over 70 people injured, and dozens of houses and businesses completely burned down, while thousands of acres of crops were reduced to ashes.