As flames continue to rage across mountainous Limassol for a second day, killing two and scorching more than 120 square kilometers, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis was asked to respond to a statement he made just last month: that Cyprus entered this year’s fire season “more prepared and better equipped than ever.”

At a Thursday press conference, Letymbiotis announced the government’s first three support measures for those affected by the wildfire, but sidestepped direct comments on whether the June assurances now stand in contradiction to this week’s events.

“From the very first moment, all the plans and protocols were activated,” he insisted, adding that the situation developed under “unprecedented conditions” of extreme temperatures, strong winds, and prolonged drought. The origin of the fire, he said, is still under investigation.

Still, Letymbiotis faced pointed questions from reporters referencing his June statements about preparedness. At the time, he had publicly declared that “this year's fire season finds the Republic of Cyprus more prepared and reinforced than ever before.”

Now, amid a mounting toll of human loss and material devastation, he cited the deployment of over 250 ground personnel, more than 75 firefighting vehicles, and all available aerial resources. “These numbers do not even include the many volunteers contributing to the effort,” he added.

Yet the scope of the destruction tells a grim story. According to current data, this wildfire is now considered the most extensive in Cyprus’ modern history, burning through approximately 9% of the Limassol district and nearly 2.5% of the total territory under the control of the Republic of Cyprus.

Letymbiotis said efforts were being coordinated from the Ypsonas operations center, where mapping and damage assessment is ongoing. But as of Thursday afternoon, the fire remained out of control across three major fronts, with authorities warning of severe weather conditions ahead.

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