Wildfire at Kalo Chorio shooting range triggers evacuation and public outcry
On Monday, July 27, 2026, a significant wildfire broke out at the Kalo Chorio shooting range in the Larnaca district, quickly spreading to the communities of Agia Anna and Psevdas. The fire, which reportedly started during the destruction of explosives by the National Guard, burned approximately 120 hectares of land. While no residential properties were destroyed, the incident forced the evacuation of elderly residents and prompted strong local protests demanding the permanent relocation of the shooting range.
Local authorities, particularly the community leader of Agia Anna, Anastasis Georgiou, criticized the Ministry of Defence, citing a long-standing history of safety concerns and inadequate firebreak maintenance. The emergency response was marred by a two-hour delay in the national 'Cy-Alert' notification system. Civil Defence officials and the contractor, GCC, confirmed that a technical error occurred during the system's first real-world emergency deployment, though they noted that the 'Polyvios' evacuation plan was activated manually by coordinating directly with community leaders.
An investigation into the cause of the fire and the technical failure of the Cy-Alert system is currently underway. Public pressure remains high as residents continue to hold officials accountable for what they describe as recurring safety risks in the area.