Killer wildfires in Athens that claimed 83 lives with many missing, and 190 injured has raised awareness about preventing a similar scenario happening in Cyprus.
Government officials have told the public that they are taking all necessary steps to prevent events such as the coastal wildfires that burnt through Attica, Athens.
Cyprus Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou on Thursday reassured the public that authorities are looking at additional fire-fighting measures.
After expressing his condolences to the family of the fire victims, the Justice Minister said that while the government is ready to help the people of Greece in any way it can, Nicosia is drawing its own lessons and conclusions.
Speaking to state CyBC radio, Nicolaou said the government is looking into ways of enhancing the state’s operational capability in the case of fire, by acquiring two more aircraft.
He said the Greek fires have shown, yet once more, the importance of timely intervention in order to prevent the wildfires from spreading.
Cyprus has itself been ravaged by devastating forest fires in the recent past.
“Spread of a fire causes more difficulty in extinguishing it. Emphasis should be placed on the strengthening air capability and preventative measures, such as patrols,” said Nicolaou.
He said a meeting between five ministries (Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transport and Finance) was held at the end of June in order to go through the conclusions of a study commissioned on how the Republic of Cyprus can enhance its firefighting capability by acquiring more aircraft.
He explained that a technical committee was set up with instructions to prepare a study on how the government can proceed with acquiring more aircraft.
The committee recommended the acquisition of two aircraft. The study looked at the possibility of buying aircraft, acquiring them via a leasing agreement, acquiring them using the BOT method. It also suggested infrastructure measures and services needed.
“Two more aircraft will be added to the firefighting fleet,” said Nicolaou, adding that Cyprus will have 4 such aircrafts in total.
“There are also the 3 helicopters belonging to the National Guard, of which one is called in in case of a fire, with the committee suggesting the government make the appropriate arrangements to use a second helicopter.
It was also suggested that the four police helicopters should be utilized to the maximum, said Nicolaou.
He added that two RAF helicopters belonging to the British Bases are on hand to help in case of a wildfire.
Nicolaou said in the coming days an extra 56 firefighters will be recruited.
Currently, there are around 64 firefighters helping Greek emergency services tackle the blazes around Athens.
Nicosia has also donated €10 mln to a Greek fire relief fund and opened bank accounts for Cypriots to make a donation to the charity drive.
The death toll from the deadly blaze that ravaged Mati in east Attica on Monday rose to 83 on Thursday, after a 73-year-old man who was in intensive care in Athens' Evangelismos hospital died.
Rescuers are looking for missing people but have not yet entered closed houses in affected areas like Mati and the wider Rafina area.
About 300 firemen and volunteers combed through the area looking for dozens reported missing, among them two 9-year old sisters.
Greece’s Infrastructure Ministry announced on Thursday that 1,218 buildings (48.93%) out of the 2,489 assessed by its engineers were deemed uninhabitable in the fire-affected zone.
The death toll is expected to increase as crews search more of the areas affected by the fires.
A further 200 firefighters backed up by a water-dropping helicopter were tackling the second forest fire west of the capital, near Agioi Theodori, where local authorities pre-emptively evacuated three nearby communities overnight.
