Filenews 11 June 2024
Update -
Houses in the village of Psathi in the Paphos district are in immediate danger from a fire that has broken out and raged uncontrollably for an hour. Police are already asking residents of the community to leave their homes. Thick smoke covers Tala.
According to the police, the fire has reached the entrance of the village, while it is heading dangerously towards the neighboring Agios Dimitrianos. The residents of Psathi have been asked to leave the village, while the residents of the neighboring village are also on standby.
A means of flight and strong ground forces are operating in the area, while their reinforcement has already been requested with all available divisions from all provinces.
Specifically, the Flying Assets Unit of the Department of Forests was notified for the take-off of two Jordanian helicopters and one helicopter of the National Guard.
In addition, a helicopter of MAEP and ground forces from Limassol District and EMAK respond. In addition, an advanced control center is installed. There are also Police and Civil Defence in the area.
It is noted that the fire was detected by the aircraft of the Department of Forests that was on patrol and made water drops.
As the Police announced, the road from Lemonari to Polemi and the road Ag. Dimitrianou to Psathi. Traffic is channelled through side roads, it is noted.
The Fire Brigade's spokesman, Andreas Kettis, said that the cause of the fire will be examined at a later stage.
The seriousness of the situation with the fire raging in Psathi, is shown not only by the evacuation of the community and the closure of roads in the wider area, but also by the fact that smoke has reached the community of Tala, several kilometers south of its epicenter.
As can be seen in the photos of philenews, much of the sky in the area of the Monastery of Agios Neophytos has been completely covered by thick smoke that makes clear the extent of the problem at the epicenter of the fire.
At the same time, firefighting equipment flights are ongoing in an agonizing effort to bring the fire under control before there are more serious consequences for people and their property in the area.
