Forest fire warning

With temperatures reaching as high as 40C, Cyprus is now at great risk of forest fires, the forestry department warned on Monday, calling on the public to be cautious.

In a statement, it said “the risk of explosion and expansion of forest fires is high,” and in addition to all the preventative fire measures the department had taken, the public’s contribution was vital.

People should avoid avoiding lighting fires, using any equipment or agricultural machinery which produce sparks or fires and not throwing matches or cigarette butts in the countryside or forests.

Anyone who sees smoke or fire close to or in a forest, is urged to call the closest forest department or the hotline at 1407. Alternatively, the public can dial 112 for the fire services.

 

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.