“No Negligence,” Says Minister Overseeing Fire Service After Largest Wildfire in Cyprus’ History
Marios Hartsiotis denies claims of delayed response, calls firefighting effort “colossal” amid mounting pressure from residents.
As Cyprus battles the most devastating wildfire in its modern history, burning over 100 square kilometers in the Limassol district, government officials are urging focus on containment rather than blame.
Speaking to state radio, Minister Marios Hartsiotis rejected accusations of delayed response from affected residents and community leaders, emphasizing that firefighting efforts were immediate and massive in scale.
“Now is not the time to assign blame,” Hartsiotis stated. “Our priority remains the protection of human life and minimizing property damage, as both the President and I have stressed.”
According to Hartsiotis, 106 people displaced by the wildfire are currently being housed in various public and community centers. He added that if their homes are found to be uninhabitable after inspection later in the day, they will be transferred to hotels that have already been prepared to accommodate them.
“So far, we have not been informed of any additional missing persons,” he said, referring to ongoing communication with local mayors and village leaders. “I’m here with the Commissioner for Mountainous Regions, who remains in direct contact with the President of the Republic. Aside from the tragic loss of two of our fellow citizens, we hope there will be no further casualties—only material losses.”
The fire, driven by strong winds reaching up to six Beaufort, has consumed over 100 square kilometers, marking it as the largest wildfire in terms of burned area in Cyprus' modern history.
Despite public criticism regarding the speed and effectiveness of the emergency response, Hartsiotis remained firm in defending the government’s actions.
“I have been at the operations coordination center since 3 PM yesterday and stayed through the night. I can confidently say the efforts from the very beginning were colossal,” he emphasized. “I witnessed the fire firsthand—the scale, the changing wind directions, and the intensity. With full respect to the public’s concerns, I repeat: this is not the time for assigning responsibility. The fire must be brought under control. Let us hope there are no more lives lost.”
