Limassol: President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides expressed cautious optimism regarding the wildfires in the mountainous areas of Limassol, emphasizing the importance of remaining vigilant as complacency cannot be afforded. The President made these remarks during a briefing at the coordination center in Limassol.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides labeled the situation as unprecedented, exacerbated by uncooperative weather conditions. He reiterated that the primary objective is safeguarding human lives, while also ensuring that financial support and assistance are provided to those affected, including employees. Coordination with the Ministries of Labor and Finance is underway to facilitate this support.
The President highlighted that health personnel are on standby to offer assistance, and he praised the extraordinary efforts of all authorities and government services. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude towards Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Sweden, Spain, and Greece for their prompt response to Cyprus’ call for aid in combating the fires.
Christodoulides described the situation at the Omodos front as challenging and stressed the need for vigilance until aircraft can be deployed during daylight. In response to inquiries, he noted that RescEU was activated promptly and acknowledged that many EU countries are also battling wildfires. He refrained from declaring the fires under control, leaving that determination to experts, but noted that signs are improving.
The President mentioned the imminent arrival of Israeli aircraft, which will begin operations immediately. He reiterated that the immediate focus remains on saving lives, while an assessment of any shortcomings will follow. He also acknowledged the tragic loss of two citizens, marking a significant loss for the country.