TWO people were burnt alive in a vehicle while trying to flee a raging wildfire in southern Cyprus.
Across the sea, Turkey battled a massive blaze that killed at least 10 rescue workers in central Eskisehir.
More than 100 residents in the Cypriot districts of Limassol and Paphos had to leave their homes after a fire ignited around midday on Wednesday, as reported by Cyprus’ Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis.
The blaze ravaged approximately 38.6 square miles of forested hillsides, destroying dozens of homes and vehicles on the southern section of the island’s Troodos mountain range.
Temperatures on the island peaked at a scorching 43C on Wednesday, triggering an amber weather alert.
By Thursday morning, fire service spokesperson Andreas Kettis said there were no active fronts, but crews were still battling flare-ups.
He added that winds are expected to pick up later in the day and up to 14 aircraft continue to drop water over hard-to-reach areas.
Spain is set to dispatch two firefighting planes on Thursday morning, stated government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis, with Jordan contributing two aircraft of its own for assistance.
An RAF Chinook helicopter operating from one of Cyprus’ British bases is also pitching in.
The island has been on high alert for fires this summer after three dry winters in a row.
Cypriot police are investigating claims of arson after eyewitnesses reported the fire started at two separate points near a garbage dump, Greek outlet Proto Thema reports.
Meanwhile in Turkey, wildfires killed 10 people – five forest workers and five rescuers – and injured 14 others, agriculture minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on Wednesday.
Despite 10 helicopters, five firefighting planes and 30 fire engines battling the blaze, unpredictable winds trapped at least 24 firefighters when the flames suddenly shifted direction, the minister told reporters.
They were rushed to hospital, but 10 died and 14 others remain in treatment, Yumakli added.
The fire broke out in Seyitgazi district, Eskisehir, before spreading to the İhsaniye district in neighbouring Afyonkarahisar.
By the evening, the fire had burned 3,700 acres and forced 1,200 people to evacuate nearby villages.
Temperatures across Turkey have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius since Sunday – between 6 and 12 degrees above the seasonal norms.
Based on initial investigations, a power line malfunction may have sparked the fire, but arson has still not been ruled out.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences: “I have learned with great sorrow that five forest workers and five AKUT volunteers were martyred in the Eskişehir fire.”
“I extend my condolences to their families and to our nation.”
