Outrage follows wildfire caused by National Guard exercises in Larnaca

On July 27, 2026, a major wildfire broke out in the Kalo Chorio area of the Larnaca district, reportedly ignited during live-fire training exercises conducted by the National Guard. The blaze threatened nearby residential areas, particularly the village of Agia Anna, forcing the evacuation of approximately ten elderly residents. Local community leader Anastasis Georgiou condemned the decision to hold military exercises during peak summer heat, noting that previous attempts to prevent such drills had been successful. Two to three houses in Agia Anna narrowly escaped destruction thanks to the intervention of firefighters, forest rangers, and volunteers.

Controversy also emerged regarding the national early-warning system, CY Alert, which experienced significant delays. While the fire started at 12:40, many residents reported not receiving an evacuation alert until after 17:00, forcing the local community to use the church bell to signal the need to evacuate. Civil Defence spokesperson Panayiotis Liasidis later admitted that a technical failure caused a delay of up to two hours in the system. The Director of the Department of Forests, Savvas Iezekiel, confirmed that his department had not been notified of the ammunition destruction activity. Investigations into the technical failure of the alert system and the circumstances of the exercises are expected to follow.