FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – A major wildfire in the Limassol region has left two people dead and forced evacuations across dozens of communities.
Emergency responders discovered both victims inside the same burned-out vehicle near the Monagri–Alassa road, confirming initial fears as the blaze intensified.
Fire crews worked through the night as flames spread into residential areas of Souni and Zanatzia. At first light, firefighting aircraft resumed water drops while extra ground teams were deployed to control advancing fronts.
The fire came dangerously close to the industrial zone of Ypsonas and the village of Pachna, but both were spared after a tense overnight operation. Authorities activated “Ikaros II”—an emergency protocol for large-scale fires—and have evacuated 12 villages along with nearby campsites.
Renewed flare-ups were reported in Mallia, while the approach of the fire toward Alassa continues to raise alarm. The fire also disrupted crisis management efforts, forcing a full relocation of the national coordination centre to Paramali via backroads, as main highways remain closed.
