Limassol wildfire leaves trail of destruction as three injured and villages evacuated

Two fires are raging out of control in Limassol and Paphos districts and people are being evacuated from various villages with one serious injury already reported.

Houses and cars have also been burned and Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis, speaking on site from the Limassol crisis centre, called on people to cooperate with the police, fire service and civil defence to facilitate the evacuations of Malia, Omodos, Kilani, Vasa Kilaniou, Potamiou and Arsos. Vouni has also been affected.

The fire is now heading toward Pera Pedi and Koilani in Limassol. Plans are underway to evacuate those communities, as well as nearby campgrounds in the broader Platres area. Evacuations are being coordinated by Civil Defence and members of the National Guard.

“It is a very difficult fire. Winds are 5 Beaufort and eight aircraft are operating in the area,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the fire is out of control. We hope for the best the soonest possible,” he added.

Public hospitals are on full alert as Cyprus battles massive wildfires across villages in Limassol and Paphos. According to the state health services (Okypy), all A&E departments and the burn unit at Nicosia general have been placed on full readiness to treat any injuries. Three ambulances, the Okypy special response team, and two specialised nurses aboard airlift helicopters are already deployed. Casualties will be stabilised at the scene before any necessary hospital transfers.

The wildfire in Ayia Marinouda, Paphos district, also remains out of control. It is now advancing on two fronts toward Ayia Varvara and Episkopi. Eight staffed fire engines from local stations are operating, supported by the Game and Fauna service, a bulldozer and aerial resources.

In Ayios Therapontas, homes have already burned. The village leader told state television he had been calling for air support since 16:50 but was told: “We’re doing what we can, sir.”

Flames have reached the village centre, destroying houses in the surrounding area.

Hartsiotis said the community hall in Pachna was ready to offer air-conditioning, juice and water to the residents.

Ten fire engines are in the area supported by eight firefighting aircraft, while Icarus II has been set in motion to coordinate efforts.

Residents in Malia have been evacuated, and efforts to evacuate the neighbouring village Vasa Koilaniou are ongoing, the president of the Malia community council Marilena Athini told the Cyprus News Agency.

Some residents were initially reluctant to leave their homes.

The police said the fire started at around noon on Wednesday and the road from Malia to Omodos was closed to traffic. Residents are being evacuated via the main road leading to Pachna.
Fire Service spokesman Andreas Kettis said six fire engines as well as two from the Forestry Department and two from Support Cy volunteer group, are currently battling with the flames.

Six aircraft have also been called in.

Kettis said an aircraft from the British bases is also assisting efforts.

The evacuation operation is being carried out by Fire Service members in collaboration with civil defence forces.

Speaking on state television, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that all available assets were activated from the very first moment. “Jordan has responded and we are in contact with other states,” he said, adding that at the request of the Republic of Cyprus, the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated.

Letymbiotis noted that the Ministers of Justice and Agriculture were already at the scene, while President Nikos Christodoulides was en route to coordinate operations. “We are facing long hours and strong winds,” he added.
“It is disheartening to see the images, but what comes first is human lives.”
The president has since arrived at the crisis centre in Ayios Amvrosios, accompanied by chief of police Themistoklis Arnaoutis and government spokesman Letymbiotis. Ministers Marios Hartsiotis and Maria Panayiotou have been on site for several hours, and Limassol MPs are also present.

Three people have been taken to hospital. Okypy spokesman Charalambos Charilaou confirmed two burn victims were transferred to Limassol General Hospital. One, a 73-year-old man with extensive burns, was admitted to the emergency department for immediate care. Another woman arrived in her private vehicle and is currently receiving medical attention.

A first aid station has also been set up at the Kivides village football ground, where ten individuals have been treated so far, mostly for breathing difficulties and eye irritation. One of them, suffering from respiratory distress, has been taken to Limassol General Hospital.

Earlier, a citizen was briefly reported missing. However, Civil Defence spokesman Panayiotis Liasides said:

“I was informed of one missing person in Malia. They have been found and are safe. I have no further information about other missing individuals.”

In Amargeti, community leader Alexandros Nikolaou told the Cyprus News Agency the village remains safe for now.

“The fire reached the borders of Episkopi and stopped there,” he said. However, the village and surrounding communities have been left without electricity for over two hours.

“Some elderly residents don’t know what’s going on. There must be updates and announcements from the Electricity Authority,” he urged.

President Nikos Christodoulides visited the operations centre set up inside the church of Ayios Ephraim in Ayios Amvrosios. Following a briefing from commanders, he said:

“The situation is extremely difficult. The front we are battling is massive. More than 250 personnel are on the ground, from Nicosia, Larnaca and beyond Limassol.”

He continued:

“The top priority is that there be no loss of life. That is where all efforts are focused. Weather conditions are unfortunately not helping. We hope the coming hours will offer better conditions to contain this.”

He also appealed to the public: “I fully understand the concerns about property, but people must follow the instructions of those who know best and evacuate their homes.”

He confirmed significant property losses have already occurred, but stressed:

“The state will fully support the recovery once the situation is under control. Right now, the priority is to avoid any human loss.”

Asked about the origin and scale of the fires, the President said this was not the time for such assessments. He also confirmed international assistance:

“Jordan has already responded. Other neighbouring states are expected to follow. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated. The main obstacle is the difficult weather conditions.”

Finally, he reiterated:

“The fire is out of control. You can all see how many active fronts there are.”

Meanwhile, residents from the communities of Natas and Episkopi are actively assisting firefighting efforts after flames, driven by strong winds, spread rapidly from Ayia Marinouda to Agia Varvara, Marathus, Natas and Episkopi. Locals told CNA the fire began at the dog field in Ayia Marinouda and reached nearby rural areas with paddocks and livestock. Although no homes were under threat at the time, residents described the situation as a major disaster, recalling last year’s devastating fire in the Choulou area.
The fires have also reached the hill community, where the close structure of homes and rooftops helped carry the flames. According to the Fire Service, the area is being evacuated, and PTA members moved children to safety as a precaution. Campgrounds along the community’s borders were also evacuated.
In parallel, authorities have ordered the immediate evacuation of several picnic and camping grounds due to the advancing flames, including camping Platres, camping Pera Pedi, camping Ayia Mavri, and other sites in the surrounding areas.

Sun struggles to shine through the cloud of smoke caused by the fire in Malia as seen from Limassol

In Paphos the fire broke out at the Ayia Marinouda rubbish dump towards Ayia Varvara village and instructions have been given to evacuate the community.

Kettis said the fire was out of control and had been spotted by aircraft fighting the Malia fire and efforts are being made to put it out.

According to Civil Defence spokesman Panayiotis Liasides, shelters have been set up at locations in Pachna, Kyvides and Trimiklini. Food is being sent to both evacuees and personnel working intensively in the field.

About 15 Civil Defence vehicles have been deployed, with additional help requested from Larnaca. He noted difficulties in accessing certain villages due to the fire, adding that the number of evacuated residents is still being recorded.