Cyprus offers aid to Greece amid deadly fires as arson investigations continue

President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus has formally offered assistance to Greece as devastating wildfires continue to impact the Attica region. This offer follows a tragic incident on August 2, where two firefighting helicopters collided near Psatha, resulting in the deaths of a Danish pilot and a Greek fire brigade liaison officer. While the Cypriot government remains in constant contact with Greek authorities via the National Coordinator for Civil Protection, Nikos Longinos, officials noted that the current scale of the fires likely requires large-scale aerial assets rather than the smaller units Cyprus can provide.

Separately, in Cyprus, authorities have recorded over 1,450 wildfires since the beginning of the year, with officials expressing concern over a recent surge in suspected arson. Fire Chief Nikos Longinos stated that over 90 percent of fires are human-caused, and police are currently searching for a foreign national suspected of starting a fire in the Kornos area on August 2. A witness reportedly photographed the suspect using fireworks to ignite dry grass before extinguishing the blaze herself. Investigations into these malicious acts are ongoing, and police are reviewing multiple incidents where multiple fire outbreaks were clustered in close proximity.