Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus Civil Defence has been placed on heightened alert due to an increased risk of wildfires, with patrols deployed to support prevention and enable a rapid response, spokesman Panayiotis Liasides said on Saturday.
Heightened readiness
Liasides said Civil Defence was monitoring forecasts issued by the meteorological department and remained in constant communication with the national coordinator for major wildfires, the fire service, the forestry department and other competent authorities.
Vehicles are conducting patrols, while the service remains in a state of increased readiness to provide assistance if required.
Requests from Spain and France
Liasides said Spain and France, which are facing major wildfires, had initially requested aerial firefighting assistance from Cyprus.
The requests were later withdrawn after Spain received support from Portugal, while France informed Cypriot authorities that it no longer required aerial assets.