Repeated fires in Paphos prompt arson concerns
Forestry department director Savvas Ezekiel said recurring fires in the Paphos area require closer investigation amid concerns of malicious activity.
Paphos, Cyprus. Repeated fires in the Paphos district have raised concerns that arsonists may be responsible, Forestry Department director Savvas Ezekiel said on Sunday.
Two fires broke out in Lysos on Saturday, about 500 metres apart, as authorities investigate whether they were caused deliberately.
Lysos fires
The first fire started at around 4pm in the Potamoudes area and burned approximately seven hectares before being brought under control at about 6pm.
A second fire broke out shortly afterwards in the Mersinia area.
Forestry Department spokesman Glafkos Kyriakou said on Saturday that the two incidents pointed to a malicious act.
Wider pattern
Ezekiel told the Cyprus News Agency that the Lysos fires were part of a wider pattern of incidents reported in recent years between Droushia and Prodromos, as well as in Skoulli.
“We cannot have five fires starting from Drouseia to Prodromos as consecutive incidents,” he said.
“The phenomenon in this ‘triangle’ that I mentioned to you occurs every year. Why does it happen every year? Something is up and we must identify it.”
Investigation
Ezekiel said the repeated incidents required closer investigation and that he was prepared to submit proposals concerning the area at forthcoming meetings.
Asked about the investigation into the Lysos fires, he said only that the case was being investigated and declined to provide further details.
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