Anger mounts in Larnaca as defence minister blames army battalion for wildfire, promises answers within ten days

Local firefire servicenational guardTop News Anger mounts in Larnaca as defence minister blames army battalion for wildfire, promises answers within ten days Feab3e61abe8d5140e8a0e024cdb781e Relevant News Defence challenges government doctor who examined complainant in Phedonos rape trial 28 July 2026 Suspended Metropolitan Tychikos spared further punishment for now over refusal to drop court case 28 July 2026 Technical fault delayed Cy-Alert fire warning by two hours, Civil Defence spokesman admits 28 July 2026 Natasa Christoforou 28 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Anger and unanswered questions are mounting in the Larnaca district over a large wildfire that broke out yesterday, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes as flames threatened their properties. Bells rang out in Agia Anna and Psevda to signal evacuation, while the CY-Alert warning message was delayed by two hours and, in some cases, never arrived at all. A large-scale operation was mounted to safely move residents to secure locations. The fire was caused by the National Guard’s decision to go ahead with the destruction of munitions at the Kalo Chorio firing range, at a time when weather conditions rule out this kind of outdoor activity and the Forest Department’s warnings over heightened fire risk have been constantly in the headlines. The fire then spread because firefighting crews could not easily intervene, hampered by explosions taking place inside the firing range itself. “Extinguishing a fire inside the firing range is particularly difficult,” National Coordinator of Civil Protection, Chief Fire Officer Nikos Longinos, explained. “When the fire crossed outside the range and opened up a front, the strength of the wind and the surrounding vegetation made its rapid spread easier. Once it had got out of the range and opened up, you understand that with the strength of the wind, and the vegetation that exists around the area, it is very easy for a fire to break out and for a front to form.” Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas expressed anger, telling journalists that “responsibility has a first and last name.” He said he had ordered an investigation and pledged answers within ten days, adding that if political responsibility is established, he is ready to take it on. The Fire Service said the fire broke out at the Kalo Chorio firing range at 12.27pm. Longinos said the first fire engines reached the scene seven minutes later, at 12.34pm. The response mechanism was activated immediately, as the fire had already spread beyond the firing range. On the fire’s origin, Longinos said: “It is clear that the fire started from the firing range.” Anger in Agia Anna Agia Anna community leader Anastasis Georgiou launched a scathing attack on President Nikos Christodoulides and Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas. He called it unacceptable to carry out military activity during a period of very high temperatures and heightened fire risk. Addressing the President and the minister directly, Georgiou used particularly harsh language: “They’re looking for the criminals who start fires, but they’re the ones starting them.” He noted that two to three houses in Agia Anna were saved at the last moment thanks to the efforts of volunteers, firefighters and Forest Department staff. For safety reasons, around ten elderly residents were moved to Mosfiloti. Georgiou said no one was trapped. “We rang the bell ourselves” Georgiou was especially critical of the timing of the CY-Alert warning system. He noted that the community was informed of the fire at around 12.30pm, while the message reached mobile phones at 5.20pm. “The message took far too long to arrive. But we took the initiative ourselves. We rang the village bell and said the village was being evacuated,” he added. “We received no message” Agia Anna resident Eleni Louka made serious complaints about the operation of CY-Alert. “Some of us received no message at all from CY-Alert,” she told journalists. Louka said a woman whose house was up the mountain did not receive the alert and was informed with a long delay by other residents, which she said put her life at risk. “Move the firing range” Residents of the affected communities in the Larnaca district appear furious and are once again demanding the relocation of the Kalo Chorio firing range. They argue that its operation repeatedly causes problems and endangers both homes and the natural environment in an area already hit by fires. Giorgos Iosif, an Agia Anna resident whose house was endangered by the flames, put it plainly. He noted that residents had asked the Defence Minister and the National Guard to halt exercises during the summer months. “You’re happy in your chair. Get up and come see the problems residents face,” he told Phileleftheros. Palmas: “The 70th Engineer Battalion bears responsibility” “I want to express my strong displeasure at the unprofessionalism shown during the destruction of RPG munitions at the Kalo Chorio firing range in Larnaca,” Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said in his initial statement. “First of all, I should make clear that I have already ordered an investigation to establish the exact circumstances behind how this situation unfolded. At the same time, I have to say that responsibility has a first and last name. And responsibility for the fire lies with the 70th Engineer Battalion. “Under conditions of 40 degrees Celsius, while heavy weapons explosions are banned during the summer months, they went ahead, and it will be investigated why they went ahead, to destroy these munitions, with tragic results, fortunately without any threat to human life or the destruction of property.” On political responsibility for the fire, Palmas said: “There shouldn’t be a reasonable person who directly loads any responsibility for this matter onto the President of the Republic or the Defence Minister. If questions of political responsibility arise, I want you to know that I will take them on with full responsibility, if that proves necessary and provides a solution. I have proven this in the past too.” Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Defence challenges government doctor who examined complainant in Phedonos rape trial Suspended Metropolitan Tychikos spared further punishment for now over refusal to drop court case Technical fault delayed Cy-Alert fire warning by two hours, Civil Defence spokesman admits Investigators send Law Office their recommendations on fatal Germasogeia collapse Guterres begins first UN chief visit to Cyprus since 2010 as expectations stay low Guterres lands in Cyprus, pledges ‘comprehensive and lasting’ solution 40 degrees and clear skies on Tuesday Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.