Two dead, homes burn in massive Cyprus wildfire

Two people were killed and hundreds evacuated as a massive wildfire tore through southern Cyprus, destroying homes and threatening communities amid an intense heatwave.

Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze after it erupted in mountainous terrain north of the southern city of Limassol around midday Wednesday, driven by strong winds and searing temperatures.

Overnight, two people were found dead in a burned-out vehicle, while authorities continued efforts to evacuate residents trapped in the village of Lofou, about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Limassol.

“The situation is very difficult and the fire front is huge. All forces have been mobilized,” Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told reporters from the scene earlier.

Temperatures on the island reached 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, triggering an amber weather alert. Conditions are expected to worsen Thursday, with highs forecast to hit 44 degrees — the hottest day of the year so far.

Firefighting aircraft were expected to resume operations at first light after darkness forced a pause. Homes were burning in the Souni-Zanakia communities early Thursday, the fire brigade said.

Cyprus has requested assistance through the European Union’s civil protection mechanism, with Spain expected to send two aircraft on Thursday, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. Jordan has also pledged support.

The island has been grappling with a protracted drought that has pushed its scarce water resources to critically low levels. The affected area sits just north of the Kouris reservoir — Cyprus’s largest — which was at only 15.5 percent of capacity on Wednesday.