Cyprus Forestry Department issues safety warnings following forest accidents

The Cyprus Forestry Department has issued an urgent call for caution to mushroom pickers, hunters, and forest visitors following a series of recent accidents and disappearances in the country's wooded areas. Spokesman Glavkos Kyriakou noted that favorable weather conditions this season have led to a surge in visitors, resulting in multiple emergency incidents.

Key events include the death of a 75-year-old woman on November 8, who fell into a ravine while foraging for mushrooms, the rescue of a 67-year-old man in the Stavros tis Psokas region on November 11, and the ongoing search for a 60-year-old man who went missing in the rugged Roudias Valley. Officials emphasized that the Roudias Valley remains one of the most difficult and wild areas for rescue operations.

To prevent further incidents, the department urges visitors to avoid treacherous terrain, stay on marked trails near their vehicles, and store their parking coordinates on mobile phones. Further recommendations include avoiding solo expeditions, informing relatives of travel plans, keeping mobile phones charged, and wearing sturdy, non-slip footwear. Authorities continue to search for the missing 60-year-old man, while emphasizing that proper preparation and group safety are essential for those entering forested areas during the peak mushroom season.