Two forest fires extinguished in Lysos, Paphos

On August 15, 2026, two forest fires broke out in the community of Lysos in the Paphos district, sparking a major emergency response. The first fire, which ignited shortly before 16:00 in the Potamoudes area, burned approximately seven hectares of agricultural and forest land before being brought under control by 17:45. A second fire emerged shortly thereafter in the nearby Mersinia area, located just 500 meters away, but was swiftly contained. The operation involved the Ikaros II aerial plan, utilizing nine aircraft and helicopters, alongside significant ground forces including 57 personnel from the Forestry Department, as well as units from the Fire Service, Civil Defense, and Game and Fauna Service.

Savvas Ezekiel, the Director of the Forestry Department who coordinated the operation, expressed serious concern regarding the nature of these incidents. Authorities are currently investigating the fires as suspected arson, citing their proximity and the timing of the outbreaks. Ezekiel noted that these events fit a broader, troubling pattern of recurrent fires in a specific geographic triangle between Droushia, Prodromi, and Skoulli, which occurs annually. Officials are now conducting further investigations to identify the causes and determine if a coordinated effort is behind these persistent threats to the region.