WHAT was once a magnificent vast forest range, rich in vegetation, giant trees, wild shrubs and lush orchards is now nothing more than desolate waste ground clouded in smoke.
Firefighters yesterday battled to save homes and villages, but the damage to the forest valleys may take a century to heal.
The brunt of the destruction was felt in the mountain villages of Pelendri and Saittas, where residents fled for their lives while others could only look on in horror as the blaze tore through their homes and gardens.
Just outside the village of Saittas, cars lay burnt on the side of the road as did warehouses and some holiday homes. The wild shrubs and towering pine trees that shaded and sheltered the tight-knit community was reduced to pile of ash.
Nearby, the village of Pelendri was surrounded by flames.
Children at the Limassol Bishopric’s camping site at Saittas were escorted to safety and were last night with their parents.
According to eyewitness reports, the area surrounding the campsite was in flames but buildings at the site remained intact.
The monastery of Timiou Prodromou at Mesa Potamo was evacuated.
Police had last night set up road blocks along all major roads leading towards to the villages in an effort to keep people from getting close to look.
Fire officials, soldiers, civil defence officers and police flooded the hit area last night, while an eerie calm began to settle on the two worst affected villages as police ushered most of the residents out of harm’s way.
Some could still be seen shell-shocked and subdued, as their homes were overwhelmed by the flames.
Hot winds continued to fan the flames into the night.
Pelendri’s community leader, Nicos Patsiaouros, broke into sobs as he spoke of the fire that had devastated his community.
“I have never seen anything like this in my life. Everything has been destroyed in the fire. People are being forced to abandon their homes and we can now only pray to God to save us.
“This is not just a disaster for our village. This is a disaster for all of Cyprus. We are talking about a catastrophe of biblical proportions.”
Another Pelendri resident, Socrates Kareklas, added: “This is a nightmare. I cannot begin to comprehend what has happened and neither can anyone else. We’ve lost our forest, we’ve lost the greenery. All that remain are rocks and ash.”
An elderly resident wailed as she spoke to reporters: “Everything is burnt. Everything is gone. If we leave, what will we come back to?”
Early reports had stated that the Tsiakkas winery outside Pelendri had been burnt to the ground were later denied.
“I was in Nicosia at the time and when I heard there was a fire, I immediately came up,” said owner Costas Tsiakkas. “My first priority was to get my wife away, but thankfully, the fire did not burn the winery. Around it, however, was utter carnage. Everything was gone.”
