2025 Limassol wildfires
| 2025 Limassol wildfires | |
|---|---|
Smoke rising over Malia on 24 July 2025 | |
| Date(s) | 23–24 July 2025 |
| Location | Malia, Cyprus |
| Coordinates | 34°49′59″N 32°48′00″E / 34.833°N 32.800°E |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 130 km² (50sq mi) |
| Land use | Forest, agricultural, rural communities |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 16+ |
| Evacuated | 16 Communities |
| Livestock losses | Hundreds lost |
| Structures destroyed | Warehouses: 83 Workshops/Businesses: 15 |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Accidental |
| Map | |
Location of Malia in Cyprus | |
On 23 July 2025, wildfires broke out near the Cypriot village of Malia during a severe heatwave with temperatures exceeding 44 °C.[1][2] The fires rapidly spread through the Limassol District throughout the day and night, destroying multiple villages[3] and forcing evacuations in over a dozen areas.
A Cypriot couple was killed[4][5] while fleeing in their vehicle,[6][7] and multiple others were injured. Firefighting efforts involved more than 250 personnel and international assistance (after the 24th) from Jordan, Spain, Israel, Egypt, and the United Kingdom. Authorities originally suspected arson,[8] with later investigations by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives International Response Team[9] concluding that the wildfire was likely caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette coming into contact with dry vegetation, and classifying it as Accidental.[10]
Villages affected
| Village / Area | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Malia | Evacuated | Near fire origin |
| Vasa Koilaniou | Evacuated | |
| Vouni | Evacuated | |
| Koilani | Evacuated | |
| Lofou | Evacuated | |
| Pera Pedi | Evacuated | Includes camping area |
| Monagri | Evacuated | |
| Agios Ambrosios | Evacuated | |
| Kyvides | Evacuated | |
| Souni-Zanakia | Evacuated | Large damage to residential buildings and infrastructure in the area of Souni-Zanakia |
| Agios Therapon | Evacuated | |
| Potamiou | Evacuated | |
| Agia Mavri | Evacuated | Camping area |
| Platres | Evacuated | Camping area |
| Sotira Limassol | Partial evacuation | |
| Ypsonas | Partial evacuation |
References
- ^ Kwai, Isabella (2025-07-24). "Sprawling Wildfires Kill 2 and Force Evacuations in Cyprus Amid Stifling Heat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "Evacuations in place in holiday hotspot as huge wildfires rage". NationalWorld. 2025-07-23. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Staff, Our Foreign (2025-07-24). "Holiday villas reduced to ashes in Cyprus wildfires". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "Cyprus wildfire: Two die in burned car as 44C heat expected". www.bbc.com. 2025-07-24. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Kokkinidis, Tasos (2025-07-24). "Two Dead as Massive Wildfire Rages in Cyprus". GreekReporter.com. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Newspaper, The Peninsula (2025-07-24). "Two dead as Cyprus battles wildfire in searing heat". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Sewsunker, Akheel (2025-07-24). "Two dead as Cyprus battles wildfire in searing heat". The Witness. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "Cyprus Faces New Unprecedented Wildfires in 2025: Villages Evacuated as Heatwave Stokes Deadly Blazes - Travel And Tour World". 2025-07-24. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "The President of the Republic of Cyprus received the ATF Unit - Gov.cy". www.gov.cy. 2025-08-18. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ "Origin and Cause Report" (PDF). IRT 25-16 #44. U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 28, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.