Two people died inside a burning car as a fast-moving wildfire ripped through southern Cyprus on Wednesday, scorching homes and forcing evacuations as temperatures pushed toward 44°C. Cypriot police confirmed the charred remains were discovered in a vehicle in the village of Malia, located in the Limassol district. While authorities have not released the identities, local media reported that the car belonged to a 77-year-old woman who had been declared missing earlier. The victims are believed to be an elderly couple from the area.
The blaze erupted in the afternoon and rapidly spread across the dry terrain, intensified by strong winds and searing heat. Firefighters said more than 100 square kilometers of land have been consumed.
At least 250 firefighting personnel have been deployed, with aircraft and ground teams working through the night. The Cyprus Fire Service stated that while the main fire fronts have been contained, flare-ups continue in the surrounding hills.
The island’s meteorological department issued a red alert on Thursday, warning that inland temperatures would reach 44°C. The extreme heat, coupled with dry conditions, has placed much of the country at high fire risk. “When I entered my house, I saw the mountain and the valley full of flames,” said Antonis Christou, a resident of Kandou village, which was hit by the fire. “I cried, really I cried, because people got burnt,” he told reporters.
The fire destroyed several homes and left neighborhoods without power or air conditioning. More than a dozen people have been treated for fire-related injuries, according to health officials. Authorities are investigating claims that the fire may have been deliberately set. The fire service said eyewitness accounts have been handed to police for review.
In response to the crisis, the Cypriot government activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to request emergency support. Spain has pledged to send two firefighting aircraft. Jordan has two planes on standby, with additional air support expected.
Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis said Cyprus is preparing for more emergency reinforcements in the coming hours.
This is not the first deadly blaze to strike the Limassol district. In 2021, four Egyptian farm workers were killed when a wildfire burned through 55 square kilometers of farmland and forest.
Cyprus, currently facing a prolonged drought, is frequently impacted by wildfires during the summer. The recent fire comes as parts of southern Europe remain gripped by extreme heat and drought. Fires have also broken out in Crete, Turkey, and Spain in recent days, forcing evacuations and stretching emergency resources.
The rising frequency of such fires across the Mediterranean has raised fresh concerns about climate-driven risks. Environmental agencies have warned that prolonged heatwaves, combined with dry vegetation and wind, are increasing the likelihood and severity of wildfires across the region.
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