The massive Limassol wildfire has left behind scenes of devastation in the communities of Souni-Zanakia and Lofou, where residents faced destruction of homes, forests, and infrastructure.
According to Souni-Zanakia community leader Nikos Vikis, the fire “completely destroyed the community.” Speaking to state radio, he described the scene as catastrophic:
“A disaster; the fire burnt everything. It appeared suddenly and swept through the forest and houses. Where we didn’t expect it, the fire came and burnt our forest along with the houses.”
Vikis said the village evacuation was carried out independently, without outside help.
“We evacuated the village ourselves, so many people. We asked for help but got nothing.” Emergency services were simultaneously battling multiple fire fronts across Limassol and Paphos, with resources stretched and requests for international assistance already underway.
He estimated that 3,000 to 3,500 people were in the community at the time. With no clear count yet of destroyed homes, he stressed:
“The forest is lost. We are a burned village.”
In Lofou, community leader Giannis Neofytou confirmed that residents trapped overnight were evacuated with police assistance. Many initially sheltered in the village school after a new fire front emerged near Pera Pedi, before most returned home by morning.
Neofytou reported that around 20 homes were lost, including two in the village centre.
“The road is full of stones and fallen electricity poles. Access to the village is not easy,” he said, describing how quickly the Limassol wildfire spread. The advancing front from Agios Therapon was visible as it approached.
The fire also trapped 36 people in Lofou, all of whom were later rescued safely.
A powerful before-and-after photo of Lofou was shared by former community leader Nikos Spyrou, showing the village’s green landscape before the blaze and the charred aftermath left behind.
Officials have confirmed that at least two people lost their lives as a result of the Limassol wildfire.
Both communities were overwhelmed by the speed and scale of the fire, forcing residents to organise their own evacuations before official resources could reach them. The destruction has displaced hundreds and left villages facing a long and difficult recovery.
Authorities continue to assess the damage and coordinate support for affected residents.
Also read: LIVE: Limassol villages evacuated, residents trapped by raging wildfire
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