Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis has addressed the ongoing crisis in Limassol following the deadly wildfire, stressing that this is not the time to assign blame.
Speaking to CyBC radio, Hartsiotis emphasised the scale of the operational response, the mobilisation of state mechanisms, and the need to bring the fire fully under control before beginning any discussion about responsibility.
“There is no active front at the moment,” he said. “But there are intense flare-ups, and the situation remains dangerous.”
Hartsiotis said he has been based at the central coordination centre since Wednesday afternoon, witnessing the wildfire efforts firsthand in winds reaching 6 Beaufort.
He noted that 13 firefighting aircraft are currently operating, with a 14th in a coordinating role, and that two Jordanian aircraft are en route to begin operations by midday.
As of Thursday morning:
- 106 people are being housed in various community shelters
- 14 villages have been evacuated
- There are no reports of missing persons, though two people are confirmed dead
“I hope we can prevent any further loss of life and limit the damage to property alone,” Hartsiotis added.
He acknowledged the pain and anger of affected residents, but rejected the notion that disorganisation was to blame.
“I understand the residents’ pain, but that does not necessarily mean there was any disorganisation. We issued public appeals for people to follow the authorities’ instructions. Many were begged to leave their homes and refused.”
Hartsiotis reiterated that massive firefighting efforts have been underway around the clock and that the priority remains extinguishing the fire and ensuring public safety.
Also read: LIVE: Unstoppable flare-ups in Limassol district – Second fatality
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