Cyprus enhances wildfire preparedness for the upcoming summer season

The Cyprus Civil Defense has updated its 'Polyvios' plan for community evacuations in the event of wildfires. Spokesperson Panagiotis Liasidis confirmed that community councils have been briefed on local procedures, including mapping of vulnerable individuals and resource inventories. Five readiness exercises were conducted in May, with another five scheduled for June. Additionally, the CY-Alert early warning system is set to launch next week, and a new Regional Aerial Firefighting Hub in Paphos will support Cyprus and neighboring countries. Meanwhile, Fire Chief and National Coordinator Nikos Longinos stated that aerial surveillance is being strengthened through the use of drones and newly installed cameras in high-risk areas. A new protocol is being prepared to authorize public and private entities to assist in aerial patrols, particularly in Limassol and Paphos. Longinos also consulted with the European Civil Protection Mechanism in Brussels to clarify international assistance protocols for major fire incidents. Fire prevention initiatives, which began in March, now incorporate artificial intelligence for monitoring purposes.