Two more people have been killed in a massive wildfire in Cyprus, raising the total death toll from blazes on the eastern Mediterranean island and in neighbouring Turkey to 12. The fires, fuelled by a brutal heatwave pushing temperatures above 44C, have devastated large areas, destroying homes and forcing hundreds to flee.
Police in Cyprus discovered two charred bodies in a burnt-out car on Thursday, caught in a blaze that began near Limassol on Wednesday. Fanned by strong winds, the fire rapidly spread to mountain villages north of the city, consuming over 40 square miles of land, including prime agricultural areas and dozens of homes.
Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, describing the situation as unprecedented. Greece, Egypt, Israel, and the UK have offered air support and firefighters, while the EU is sending water-bombing planes to assist Cypriot efforts involving 250 firefighters.
Green MP Charalambos Theopemptou, chair of the Cypriot parliament's environmental committee, called it a 'tragic situation' exacerbated by extreme heat, gale-force winds, and drought. He noted that preventive measures, such as clearing vegetation and implementing a public warning system, had not been taken, contributing to the devastation.
In Turkey, at least six separate wildfires are burning, with ten firefighters killed on Wednesday in the western Eskişehir province. Agriculture and forestry minister İbrahim Yumakli warned of 'extremely dangerous' conditions due to strong winds and scorching heat. Fires have also raged in Bilecik, Sakarya, Karabuk, and Manisa, forcing evacuations and road closures.
Scientists have long warned that climate change, driven by fossil fuel use, is making extreme weather events like heatwaves more frequent and intense.
