International Firefighting Team Dispatched to Assist Cyprus in Wildfire Battle
EU Civil Protection Mechanism plane fighting wildfire in Cyprus, June 12, 2024. Photo: X/ @eu_echo
June 13, 2024 Hour: 9:22 am
The firefighters were faced with large flare-ups due to strong winds and extremely high temperatures.
On Wednesday, Andreas Kettis, the spokesperson of the Cypriot Fire Service, said that an international team has joined Cypriot firefighters to battle a stubborn fire that has been raging for 36 hours in the country, with Greece and Jordan both sending aircraft to the western mountainous Paphos district.
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The firefighters were still faced with large flare-ups due to strong winds and extremely high temperatures, which reached 41 degrees Celsius in some areas.
Fire Chief Officer Nikos Logginos said that he was hopeful the fire would be brought under control by nightfall, adding that firefighters were using heavy earth-moving machinery to create access to the troubled region.
The fire has destroyed vegetation over more than eight square kilometers and burned down two houses and several animal farms as it raced through the scenic terrain. At least 24 other houses have been damaged.
Residents of five villages that had been evacuated overnight were allowed to return home on Wednesday, only to find out that their vineyards and orchards were destroyed. The government said officials would be sent to the area to record property damages.
Due to the situation caused by the wildfires, President Nikos Christodoulides had to return from Jordan earlier than planned. In that country, he requested help from King Abdullah II to fight the flames.
“Forest fires are common in Cyprus during the sweltering summer months on the island, which suffers from a severe lack of rainfall. On Wednesday, the Department of Meteorology issued a yellow alert and said maximum temperatures are expected to reach 41 degrees centigrade,” Tynpanama reported.
On Friday, June 7, Cyprus recorded its hottest day so far this month, with temperatures reaching a record 44 degrees Celsius.
Sources: Xinhua- Tynpanama
teleSUR/ JF
