Cyprus Wildfires Kill Two, Scorch 100 Km² amid Extreme Heat

A devastating wildfire in southern Cyprus has resulted in two confirmed deaths, with charred bodies found inside a burnt-out vehicle believed to be an elderly couple trapped by the blaze. The fire, which began in the village of Malia and spread across approximately 100 square kilometers of forested and rural land, has led to the evacuation of at least 14 villages and displaced over 100 people. More than 250 firefighters, supported by aircraft from Cyprus, Jordan, Greece, Spain, and the UK, are battling the fire amid extreme heatwave conditions with temperatures reaching up to 44°C and strong winds complicating efforts. The blaze has destroyed homes, livestock facilities, and parts of wine-producing regions, causing power and air conditioning outages in affected communities. Authorities have confirmed no active fire fronts remain, but flare-ups continue, and investigations indicate the Limassol fire was started by arson. Emergency services and government officials continue to urge residents to comply with evacuation orders while firefighting operations persist.