Filenews 24 July 2025
The battle continues with the flare-ups, with no active front at present, in the fire that broke out at noon on Wednesday in the mountainous district of Limassol, causing incalculable damage and plunging entire communities into despair. The fire spread in a flash, allied with strong winds and high temperatures, destroying dozens of homes, thousands of acres of arable land and valuable property. It left behind ashes and burns, while unfortunately we had the first victims.
The scenes that unfolded were dramatic. Residents, the elderly, children and families were forced to flee their homes in conditions of chaos and panic. Human figures, in tears, with anguish painted on their faces, watched the fortunes of a lifetime surrender to the flames.
On the battlefield, hundreds of firefighters, volunteers and members of the Civil Defense, the National Guard, the MMAD and the Fire Service, were working tirelessly to extinguish the fire and protect lives and property. Until dawn, the struggle continued unabated, with the fire front remaining out of control.
Despite aerial reinforcement, extreme weather conditions prevented any attempt to contain the fire. Smoke and the suffocating atmosphere covered the city and district of Limassol.
In the horror of the disaster, moments of humanity also stand out. Volunteers from all over Cyprus rushed to help from the first moment, while residents of other areas opened their homes to families who evacuated their homes.
All developments minute by minute
8:56 – Images from the spot where the burned vehicle was found
8:53 – Wounded are increasingAccording to information from filenews, two injured people were taken to the Nicosia hospital with burns, while there are three injured people in the Limassol hospital and two in the Troodos hospital.
8:49 – The recording of the damages begins by the crews of the Limassol District Administration – Contact details
The Limassol District Administration informs that its crews are starting today to record the damages to homes, commercial/commercial premises and vehicles in the communities of mountainous Limassol that have been affected by yesterday's fire.
Citizens who wish to report damage to their properties can contact the Limassol District Administration at the following numbers:
- 25 806 405
- 25 806 459
- 25 806 426
- 25 806 422
The crews of the District Administration will go to Communities for registration, where the competent Authorities allow access.
8:48 – Mayor of Limassol: First aid area opened
The Municipality of Limassol has opened a first aid area and is in contact with hotels to which people were transferred.
As Yiannis Armeftis stated, the Municipality is in contact with the Police. "We are on standby. Excavators of the Municipality worked to clean the areas above the Limassol hospital to stop the fire if it approaches the area," he added.
8:45 – Huge damage for EAC
Hundreds of poles and a substation were burned.
8:32 – At 95 the fire victims in hospitality areas
According to the representative of the Civil Defense, there are around 95 fire victims in accommodation facilities in Erimi, Episkopi, Trimiklini and Pachna. The Civil Defence cooperates with the Red Cross.
8:10 – The Cypriot Red Cross is also in the fight for aid
And the Cyprus Red Cross in the battle for help to people who have lost their homes or are far from their homes.
8:08 – The burnt vehicle with the charred bodies was moved
The burned vehicle with the two charred bodies was moved. As philenews is informed, he has been transferred to the Limassol Police Directorate early in the morning. The vehicle was located in Monagri.
8:02 – Director of Meteorology: Improved weather conditions – We had gusts of up to 8 Beaufort – Critical in the next period
The Director of the Meteorological Service, Philippos Tymvios, gave statements to philenews regarding the current weather conditions and their contribution to the efforts to extinguish the huge fire. As he said, on Thursday morning the winds are of low intensity, blowing northwest and weak. However, after 11:00 they are expected to turn to southwesterly, with an intensity of 3 to 4 Beaufort, which is considered moderate.
"The situation today is clearly better than yesterday and this helps significantly the aircraft operating in the area," Mr. Tymvios pointed out.
Referring to yesterday's conditions, he stressed that the winds were blowing in the opposite direction, pushing the fire southwards, in the direction of Limassol. The intensity of the winds reached 5-6 Beaufort, while wind gusts even reached 8 Beaufort, significantly complicating the work of the fire brigades.
At the same time, particularly high temperatures will prevail today as an orange warning was issued for temperatures expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius.
7:58 – Images of Total Destruction – Skull Place
7:57 – Toll Reporting Phones
The Limassol District Administration informs those affected that the telephone numbers for reporting damage to houses and cars are the following: 25806405, 25806459, 25806426, 25806422.
7:38 – Several communities without water
Several communities do not even have water, as the community leaders state.
7:37 – Those trapped in Lofou left for their homes
According to the Head of the Community of Lofos, Ioannis Neophytou, regarding the people who were trapped last night in Lofos, around 2 a.m. the Police tried to remove them. Unfortunately, however, there was a new front in Pera Pedi and the Police transferred them back to the school in Lofou and this morning they left and went to their homes.
In Lofou, as he said, about 20 houses were burned, 2 in the center of the village.
The road, he added, "is full of stones, electric poles have fallen. Access to the village is not easy." "Everything happened very quickly yesterday. We saw the front from Saint Therapon," he continued.
7:23 – Kettis: The fire has burned 100 square kilometers - Intense flare-ups
So far, the fire that has broken out in the Limassol district has burned about 100 square kilometers, said the spokesman of the Fire Service, Andreas Kettis.
Mr. Kettis noted that there are intense resurgences that are being addressed, adding that there is currently no active front. "We have 10 aerial vehicles, with the 11th being the coordinating one, which make drops, based on evaluation. Soon there will be 13 aerial vehicles, with the 14th coordinating," he added.
"We have all our forces in the region. We will proceed with changes in personnel," the Fire Brigade spokesperson said. "At the moment," he continued, "winds of intensity of 2-3 Beaufort are blowing, but it is predicted that they will strengthen and the situation will be even more dangerous when it dawns for good."
7:18 – Two burn victims in hospital – A total of 16 people at the Limassol A&E
As the spokesperson of the OCYPY, Charalambos Charilaou, told philenews, two people with severe burns were transferred to the burn clinic of the Nicosia General Hospital, while a total of 16 people were transferred to the Limassol A&E Hospital.
A First Aid center has been set up at the stadium of the Community of Erimi, which serves citizens, who mainly face respiratory problems.
The ambulances, said Mr. Charilaou, are on standby and respond when needed to transport people who present problems.
7:17 – Morning view of the city of Limassol
7:15 – Without electricity areas of Limassol
6:53 – Community leader of Sounion-Zanatzia: "Houses were burned, the forest was lost"
A disaster, everything was burned by the fire, says the Community Leader of Sounion – Zanatzia, Nikos Vikis. "Where we didn't expect it, the fire came, our forest burned us along with our houses," he stressed, speaking to State Radio. As he said, we evacuated the village on our own, too many people. We asked for help but nothing, he stressed. Asked about this, he said that there were 3 to 3.5 thousand people in the Community. "Panic prevailed, houses have been burned, we don't know how many, the forest has been lost, we are a burnt village."
6:30 – In the area of Pachna – Agios Ambrosios, the most active fronts
According to kitasweather, the situation looks somewhat better at this time in the devastating fire that started in Malia, which quickly spread to the east and south, affecting several other communities. Atthe moment, the most active fronts are in the area of Pachna – Agios Ambrosios.
10 if not 100 houses have been burned by the fire.
The Kitasweather Volunteer Firefighting Team arrived in the area from the initial stages and was operating until recently with 2 fire trucks and 18 volunteers who fought a huge and unequal battle with the flames. Strong firefighting forces and earth promoters remain in the fire. With the first light of day, all available aircraft began to operate.
The pyrometeorological conditions have improved somewhat in the last few hours but are expected to become unfavourable again during the afternoon and afternoon hours, significantly increasing the risk of flare-ups.
6:00 – The battle continues – The aerial means were raised
The firefighting forces continue their efforts to extinguish the huge fire, which broke out yesterday in the Limassol district. With the first light of day, the aerial means for drops were raised.
Due to the fire, the roads of Trimiklini – Lania – Alassa and Vouni – Agios Ambrosios – Kividon remain closed to traffic. Drivers wishing to travel from Limassol to Troodos can use the Palodias – Paramytha – Gerasa – Kalo Chorio – Agros and from Troodos to Limassol, the road Saitta – Agios Mamas – Apesia – Korfis.
Police patrols continue to be in the affected areas, to provide facilities and protection to the public, as well as to identify points of fire rekindleness.
The Police reminds all those who are in the affected areas to faithfully follow the instructions of the competent Services, for their own safety, but also to facilitate the firefighting work.
It is recalled that late in the evening, due to the fire that is in progress in the mountainous area of Limassol, instructions were given for the immediate evacuation of the following Communities, camping and picnic areas:
- Saint Ambrose
- Cubes
- Souni-Zanadzia
- Agios Therapon
- Potamiou
- Hair
- Vasa
- Vouni
- Koilani
- Hill
- Beyond Field
- Monagri
- Platres Camps
- Camps Beyond Field
- Agia Mavri Camps
- Other picnic areas in the surrounding area
People who remain in the area are encouraged to follow the instructions of the competent Services for their own safety.
At the same time, as a precautionary measure, Sotira Limassol and areas of Ypsonas.
3:36 – They cut off the front towards Ypsona and Pachna – On the burning houses in Souni-Zanatzia
According to the latest update from the spokesperson of the fire brigade, the danger for heavy industry of Ypsonas and the Community of Pachna was eliminated. The problem is currently occurring in Souni Zanatzia, with houses burning. Additional ground forces are being moved and sent from areas that are less at risk, he concludes.
2:31 – A second body was found in the car in the area of the fire
The fire turned into a deadly one. Initially, there was a report of a dead person being found around 9:00 p.m. by members of the Civil Defense, on the Monagri-Alassa road, inside a car that had been completely burned. Later it became known that a second charred body was found inside the vehicle. Examinations continue to identify the bodies.
