Filenews 19 December 2025 - by Vassos Vassiliou
In the event that fires break out in the forests, within them or within a radius of two kilometers from their boundaries, there are a total of 647 sources of water pumping, with a capacity of 80 – 100 tons each. This means that under normal conditions in the event of a fire in the free areas there are 51,760 – 64,700 tons of water available. The exact quantities depend on whether 80 or 100 tons of water are stored in each spring. Water tanks and water intake points concern only the semi-mountainous areas and are intended to be used to supply fire trucks.
In more detail, as recorded in an answer by the Minister of Agriculture Maria Panagiotou, to a question by DISY MP Giorgos Karoulas, a total of 153 water tanks with a capacity of 80 – 100 tons each are available within the forests for the purpose of pumping water to extinguish fires, while at a distance of 2 kilometers from the demarcation line of state forests (from the forest boundaries) there are another 14 tanks. At the same time, within the state forests there are another 235 water intake points, while outside the forests (within a radius of up to two kilometers) there are another 246 water intake points.
Specifically, within the forests of the Limassol district there are 33 water tanks (80 – 100 tons), in the Nicosia district 84 tanks, in the Larnaca district 8 and in the Paphos district 28. At the same time, apart from the forests (within a radius of two kilometers from them) there is a water reservoir in the Limassol district, seven in the Nicosia district and six in the Paphos district.
As for the water intake points, in the Limassol district there are 53, in the Nicosia district 101, in the Larnaca district 18, in the Paphos district 50 and in the Famagusta district 12. In addition, within a radius of two kilometers from the forests there are: In the Limassol district 15 water intake points, in the Nicosia district 166, in the Larnaca district 10 and in the Paphos district 55 points. The Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panagiotou, had been asked to inform the Parliament about the water supply network for firefighting vehicles which is in operation in semi-mountainous areas.
In the meantime, the way has been paved for the supply and maintenance of five 4×4 Rescue Fire Trucks pumped trucks, with a capacity of 2,000 liters of water each. The way was opened after the rejection of an appeal by a company (which lost the offer) before the Tender Review Authority. The offer was awarded to the company SPYROS CHOUTRIS (LEFKONITZIATIS) AND SONS LTD for €1,261,935.00 plus VAT.
