Cyprus-Forum.com

[cypezokyli]

Cyprus fights huge mountain blaze

A huge fire in central Cyprus has destroyed several holiday homes and forced the evacuation of at least two villages, officials say.

The blaze is raging in the area of Saittas in the Troodos mountains, some 55km (30 miles) south-west of the capital Nicosia.

Firefighters - backed by helicopters - are tackling the blaze, and Cyprus has called on Italy and Israel for help.

So far there have been no reports of any serious injuries.

Agriculture Minister Photis Photiou described the fire as "a big catastrophe".

He said the blaze was threatening the Troodos forest - one of the most scenic areas of the eastern Mediterranean island.

Strong winds and a scorching heatwave had helped the fire to spread rapidly, officials said.

Helicopters from British military bases on Cyprus are helping to douse the flames.

Firefighting aircraft are also expected to arrive from Italy and Israel within hours.

The heatwave has been blamed for the deaths of three elderly people in Cyprus in the past week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6256044.stm

[T_C]

I know Cypez...we had the same thing in Kyrenia years ago...this is REALLY bad news and if its anything like Kyrenia it will take YONKS for it to return to normal!!!!!

The day forum members meet up Cyprus burns down...

Still..the forums next get together could and SHOULD be in Troodos to plant some new trees

[iceman]

Having lived through the terror and disaster of the Kyrenia mountain range fire 11 years i go i know too well the damage it does to our islands nature..
According to Turkish Cypriot press today,unconditional help has been offered through UN to help fight the ongoing fire.
Remebering back 11 years ago,the same help was offered by ROC and accepted by the authorities in the north..This is not about politics,its about protecting the nature we share.
Let's hope the the unconditional help offer is accepted and the fire is extingusihed a.s.a.p..
Sadly but true,natural disasters are natures way of bringing out the solidarity in people..

[halil]

Having lived through the terror and disaster of the Kyrenia mountain range fire 11 years i go i know too well the damage it does to our islands nature..
According to Turkish Cypriot press today,unconditional help has been offered through UN to help fight the ongoing fire.
Remebering back 11 years ago,the same help was offered by ROC and accepted by the authorities in the north..This is not about politics,its about protecting the nature we share.
Let's hope the the unconditional help offer is accepted and the fire is extingusihed a.s.a.p..
Sadly but true,natural disasters are natures way of bringing out the solidarity in people..

i support your ideas iceman.as i said yesterday we must come together and plant trees for our world. Kyrenia fire was at the same days do u know it.date was 27-29 june 1995 .12 years past on it.
it was very difficult to control it. the weather was very hot and windy like troodos fire.
god will help us.... good news is the cool air is coming soon.i hope we will have many rains as well .

[Kifeas]

Having lived through the terror and disaster of the Kyrenia mountain range fire 11 years i go i know too well the damage it does to our islands nature..
According to Turkish Cypriot press today,unconditional help has been offered through UN to help fight the ongoing fire.
Remebering back 11 years ago,the same help was offered by ROC and accepted by the authorities in the north..This is not about politics,its about protecting the nature we share.
Let's hope the the unconditional help offer is accepted and the fire is extingusihed a.s.a.p..
Sadly but true,natural disasters are natures way of bringing out the solidarity in people..

The good news this morning is that the fire was managed to be put under control due to brave and fierce efforts during the night and early morning hours. Unfortunately the damage is huge, as some close to 10 sq. kms of pure forest land have been destroyed.

A note on Iceman's comments is that, if i am not mistaken, the RoC unconditional offer for help in the Kyrenia fire, some 12 years ago, was not accepted by the Turkish military.

[T_C]

Almost right Kifeas....It wasn't accepted by Denktaş

[iceman]

A note on Iceman's comments is that, if i am not mistaken, the RoC unconditional offer for help in the Kyrenia fire, some 12 years ago, was not accepted by the Turkish military.

Kifeas
Never believe what the politicians tell you.
On the second day of the fire,there were two fire engines fully manned by GC firefighters 300 meters from my house,fighting the fire..
They were coordinated by the authorities to help in non military areas..

[T_C]

OK I stand corrected...

[iceman]

I know this for a fact because we were supplying them with cold drinking water at the time

[Kifeas]

A note on Iceman's comments is that, if i am not mistaken, the RoC unconditional offer for help in the Kyrenia fire, some 12 years ago, was not accepted by the Turkish military.

Kifeas
Never believe what the politicians tell you.
On the second day of the fire,there were two fire engines fully manned by GC firefighters 300 meters from my house,fighting the fire..
They were coordinated by the authorities to help in non military areas..

And I clearly remember reading Talat, time after the fires were extinguished, fervently criticising Denktash in public for not accepting the offer for help!