Fire at Kalo Chorio firing range sparks investigations and system failure reports

A massive wildfire erupted on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Kalo Chorio firing range in the Larnaca district, after the National Guard conducted an ammunition destruction operation. The blaze scorched 120 hectares of land, threatening the communities of Kalo Chorio, Agia Anna, and Psevda, forcing emergency evacuations. Authorities failed to issue timely warnings, as the Cy-Alert system experienced a critical technical failure, forcing local officials to rely on traditional measures like ringing church bells to warn residents. The contractor, GCC, later apologized, citing an unforeseen error during the system's first real-world emergency test.

Two parallel investigations are now underway: a disciplinary probe led by Brigadier Savvas Stefanou, appointed by the General Staff of the National Guard, and a criminal investigation by the police to determine accountability for the destruction operation. Reports suggest that protocols may have been breached, though the military claims temperatures were below the 38-degree threshold. Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas has promised swift findings within ten days, while local community leaders demand the permanent closure of the firing range, citing a history of dangerous stray projectiles in residential areas. A meeting between the Minister and affected community leaders is scheduled for Friday to discuss the future of the site.