Hartsiotis Calls Death of Couple “An Unfortunate Incident”
Despite record destruction and two deaths, officials reject blame and downplay criticism.
The wildfire that swept through the mountainous regions of Limassol has become the largest in Cyprus’ modern history — burning over 125 square kilometers of land, destroying homes and livelihoods, killing two people, and displacing hundreds. Yet in the wake of such unprecedented destruction, the tone of government officials has been anything but contrite.
Government Spokesperson Letymbiotis dismissed accusations of negligence, pointing instead to ‘unprecedented conditions’ as the cause of the disaster. Specifically, he pointed to “unprecedented weather conditions” — including strong winds and extreme heat — as the sole culprits. This response, however, stood in stark contrast to his own words less than two months earlier. On June 3, Letymbiotis had confidently declared that the Republic was in “full operational readiness,” boasting of the “largest ever” fleet of firefighting aircraft and the most extensive deployment of ground forces in Cypriot history.
When pressed on the contradiction, Letymbiotis doubled down, saying all protocols had been activated promptly and that the scale of the disaster could not have been foreseen.
Justice and Public Order Minister Marios Hartsiotis took an even more provocative tone. Speaking to state broadcaster RIK, he referred to the deaths of the two elderly victims — who perished while trying to escape the blaze in their car — as “an unfortunate incident.” “Beyond that one tragic case,” he added, “no lives were lost. We successfully evacuated 16 villages.” The comment sparked widespread backlash on social media, where citizens accused the minister of insensitivity and denialism.
In multiple appearances, Hartsiotis emphasized the “positives” of the government’s response — including the protection of military depots and industrial areas — while urging the public and media to express gratitude rather than criticism. “At least acknowledge what was achieved under extreme conditions,” he said, referring to the efforts of state services.
Public frustration has only intensified as details have emerged about the timing and scope of the response. Eyewitnesses and local officials report delays in aircraft deployment, lack of coordination, and near-complete absence of Civil Defence support in some areas. Others criticized the absence of a working emergency alert system — the 112 number is still non-operational due to unresolved procurement issues..
