Cyprus appeals for help as huge wildfire rips through forest
Source: BBC
Cyprus appeals for help as huge wildfire rips through forest
4 July 2021
Cyprus has appealed for international help to tackle a huge wildfire described by officials as the worst in the country's history.
The blaze, fanned by strong winds, is spreading through the southern Limassol district and has forced the evacuation of several villages.
Dozens of properties have been damaged but no casualties have been reported.
Cyprus has been experiencing a week-long heatwave, with temperatures reaching up to 40C (104F).
Experts say that climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves. However, linking any single event to global warming is complicated.
The Cypriot authorities requested assistance from the European Union and Israel after the wildfire, which was reported at about midday on Saturday, intensified while burning in an area north of the cities of Limassol and Larnaca.
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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57710048
Firefighters are trying to control the blaze to prevent it from reaching a nearby national forest (EPA)