Agriculture Minister Photis Photiou said the cause of the fires that ravaged through the Troodos mountains on Friday destroying some 20 square kilometres of woodland and holiday homes, was probably caused by cables of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, something which the public utility denied at first.
He said that at least two other recent fires were caused by EAC cables and that he would raise the issue with the power utility, that will fuel a new crisis after the EAC management and unions refused to adopt a government decision on future LNG supplies.
The huge blaze was finally placed under control late Saturday after several helicopters, fire service trucks and hundreds of volunteers were deployed.
Water was used from the St. Raphael marina in Limassol to try and extinguish the flames in the nearby Saittas and Pelendri areas, a popular summer retreat for many.
Minister Photiou said that the state is taking stock of the damage and that he has already contacted the EU Crisis Management Fund regarding possible financial aid.
He added that a meeting will be taking place within the next few days to organise the reforestation of the area.
The problem, he said, was with the farmers in the area whose stock and equipment has been destroyed. Photiou said that he would urge the Council of Ministers to approve emergency aid to the farmers in order to save their cultivations.
He said that he would also initiate a long-term reforestation programme as soon as possible.
One of the six Cypriot members of the European Parliament and presidential hopeful Ioannis Kasoulides said that he has asked Commissioner Agriculture and Rural Development, Marianne Fischer Boel, who was on a three-day visit to the island last week, whatr she plans to do.
The MEP said he had tabled a question to the Commissioner who was supposed to visit the wine producing areas of Limassol District, but ended up going to the area destroyed by the fires.
Kasoulides was among politicians and party leaders who went to the area and who held meetings with local and village councils.
He said that the priorities should be the reforestation of the area and creating fire-protection barriers, while he added that there were European Union funds and subsidies to help young farmers stay in the area.
“The reorganisation of the water supply network is of utmost importance as this will help save whatever has not been burnt and prevent further damage,†Kassoulides said.
“The reforestation and the replacement of the farmers’ fruit tress will take ten years for the first crops to be utilised, causing financial damage to the farmers. All this must be taken into consideration by the state,†the MEP said.
“We should not blame each other for faults but try to find the cause of the problems and fix them, even though shortages were evident in many areas and these must not be repeated,†Kassoulides added.
George Perdikis, Secretary General of the Environmentalists’ Movement, called on the government to compensate all who have lost properties.
The sole MP for the Greens in parliament, said that the state should also investigate all charges related to the causes of the fire and any shortcomings in the fight against the blazes, while expressing his admiration for the “courageous fire fightersâ€.
