The fire that is raging in Cyprus, specifically in the Alassa area of ​​Limassol, has subsided, according to a post on social media of the Fire Service.

The active front is located between Fasoula-Apsiou, while at the request of the Republic of Cyprus, the European civil protection mechanism RescEU was activated, in order for other European countries to rush to help.

Strong firefighting forces are participating in the “battle” of extinguishing the fire, while Greece is sending two Canadair-type firefighting aircraft.

Τιτάνια προσπάθεια οριοθέτησης της μεγάλης πυρκαγιάς στην επαρχία Λεμεσού. Ας ελπίσουμε σήμερα να κατασβεστούν και με την βοήθεια των πτητικών μέσων από 🇬🇷🇯🇴🇮🇱. #φωτιες_2023 #κυπρος pic.twitter.com/qqgDk8vnMg

— DEFENCE ReDEFiNED (@Def_Redefined) August 7, 2023

In particular, after communication between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, with his Cypriot counterpart, Konstantinos Kobos, and the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilia, Greece will send today two Canadair aircraft to Cyprus in order to help extinguish the raging fire.

The efforts to put out the fire in the Limassol district were evaluated on Sunday evening by competent bodies, in a meeting chaired by the Speaker of the Parliament Annita Dimitriou.

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Particularly, since noon on Sunday, the semi-mountainous province of Limassol has been threatened since a new fire front was created as the previous day’s fire in Alassa rekindled. The fire spread within a short time and surrounded the communities of Apaisia, Paramytha, Spitali, Gerasa, Apsiou, and Mathikoloni.

Despite the fact that more than ten air assets were activated, including three Jordanian helicopters, among them the MI 26, which can carry up to 15 tons of water, as well as a large number of ground forces, the fire was not controlled until late at night.

The Republic of Cyprus requested assistance from the RescEU European Mechanism, while Foreign Minister, Konstantinos Kombos, was in contact with Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, and Greece for assistance by aerial means.

All the State services, the Forest Department, the Fire Service, Provincial Administration, Civil Defence, National Guard, and hundreds of volunteers contributed to the efforts to bring the fire under control.

The fiery blaze spread in no time and engulfed the entire semi-mountainous area of ​​the Limassol district. At 20:00 its main front was between the communities of Mathikoloni, Apsiou, Gerasa, where the efforts of all repression forces were concentrated.

At the same time around 7 pm, instructions were given by the Police and Civil Defence to evacuate the communities of Apsiou and Mathikoloni as a precaution, and around 9 pm, the community of Apaisia.

Also read: EU | 24 planes and 4 helicopters in 10 EU member-states for emergency fire response