President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in a televised address to the Cypriot people on Sunday evening regarding the devastating wildfires in Limassol, issued an apology on behalf of the State, stating that “at such a critical moment, we did not respond as we should have.” He announced twelve immediate actions by the Government to support those affected.
He emphasised the need to understand what went wrong, why it went wrong, and to implement the necessary corrective actions. He noted that he has already instructed all relevant Departments to submit full evaluation reports on their roles and involvement in managing the fires by the end of the week. These reports, in the interest of transparency, will also be made public, and decisions on next steps will be based on their findings.
The President stated that he met with the Chairpersons of the Councils of the directly affected Communities, in the presence of the competent Ministers and the Commissioner for Mountain Regions.
“During the meeting, after listening to their assessments and personal testimonies regarding what occurred and where weaknesses were identified, we agreed on the Government’s immediate actions to support those affected. We will stand by everyone. Together, we will get through this ordeal,” he stressed.
President Christodoulides urged the public to judge the Government strictly, as is appropriate in a democracy that strives to improve, underlining the need for unity during difficult times — to move forward, to support, to rectify, and to improve.
In his address, he stated: “I am addressing you directly in a difficult moment for our country, following the ordeal we experienced – the terrible fires in the mountainous Limassol area that resulted in the tragic loss of two of our fellow citizens, injuries to others, the destruction of property, farmland, livestock facilities, animal deaths, and serious environmental impacts.”
Expressing his deepest sorrow for those who so tragically lost their lives and his sincere condolences to their families, he said he witnessed “first-hand from the very first moment the superhuman efforts, under the most difficult conditions, of professionals and volunteers to combat the raging fires and prevent further spread, with the primary concern being to save human lives. I therefore want to thank all those who went above and beyond — firefighters, forest firefighters, community leaders, volunteers, police officers, state and other services, members of the National Guard, Civil Defence, and local people — for confronting the many fire fronts, often putting their own lives at risk,” he said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the outcome demonstrates the need to improve weaknesses in the system and the relevant mechanisms, so we can respond better to such critical incidents. “This is despite having increased the number of Fire and Forest Fire Service personnel, secured the maximum number of aerial firefighting assets, tightened penalties, and transferred control of aerial means to the National Guard. So, we must examine what failed and why, and take all necessary corrective measures,” he added.
As a State, he said, “we must identify all the gaps and shortcomings, and recognise that, at a critical moment like this, we did not respond as we should have. On behalf of the State, I apologise,” he continued.
He reiterated that all involved departments must submit comprehensive evaluation reports by the end of the week, which will be made public in the spirit of transparency. Based on these, the necessary changes will be decided to ensure a faster and more effective response in the future, as unfortunately, such incidents — a consequence of climate change — will not disappear.
He reiterated his meeting with the local community leaders and Ministers, where they agreed on the Government’s immediate actions to support those affected, stressing once again: “We will stand by everyone. Together, we will get through this.”
The 12 immediate measures announced
- Immediate financial aid to the Community Councils for covering emergency needs – already disbursed the previous Friday. Additional needs will be covered following consultation with the communities.
- Temporary housing and coverage of basic necessities for affected individuals, as well as psychological support, in collaboration with local leaders.
- Rent subsidy for individuals whose homes are uninhabitable, for as long as needed.
- Full restoration of damaged properties:
- For uninsured homes that were completely destroyed, financial assistance will be granted for full reconstruction, based on current market prices.
- For partially damaged homes, repairs will be subsidised based on updated price tables.
- For insured homes, the deductible amount will be immediately paid by the State.
- No presentation of receipts or documentation will be required to receive the financial aid.
- 100% income compensation for one year for all farmers and livestock breeders in the affected area.
- Reactivation plans for both professionals and non-professionals, including:
- Restoration of infrastructure and machinery for farmers and livestock breeders.
- Similar support for small businesses.
- One-off financial aid for families with damaged or destroyed homes:
- €10,000 for total destruction of a primary residence, plus €2,000 per dependent child.
- €5,000 for partial damage to a primary residence, plus €1,000 per dependent child.
- Specialised assistance for vulnerable citizens.
- Monthly compensation for three months for all employees and self-employed individuals whose businesses have been affected and cannot operate.
- Restoration of water and electricity networks, with the majority expected to be fully operational within the coming days.
- Exemption from annual community fees and taxes for permanent residents and businesses in the affected areas. The Government will cover the full amount due to the communities.
- Environmental restoration of the affected areas.
- Full publication of departmental evaluation reports on the fire response by the end of the week, with follow-up action plans based on identified weaknesses and failures.
Also read: Limassol fire: Risks of flare-ups – Arson investigated
