Shocking video shows rows of luxury villas reduced to ashes by deadly Cyprus wildfires 'started by arsonists' as couple are burnt alive trying to flee and officials hunt for missing people

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

Shocking footage shows the aftermath of deadly wildfires in Cyprus with rows of luxury villas reduced to ashes.
Terrified residents were forced to flee in the night as raging flames - fanned by powerful winds and a 40C heatwave - engulfed entire streets to the north of Limassol, a coastal city loved by Brits.
One elderly couple were tragically burnt alive as they attempted to flee in their car while rescue teams are frantically searching for missing people and carrying out mass evacuations.
The blaze, which hasn't stopped burning since it broke out at midday on Wednesday, has devastated swathes of agricultural and habitable land across the wine–producing region north of the city of Limassol, which sits near popular holiday hotspots.
Rows of luxury homes in the Souni region of the island were seen burnt to a crisp. Several trees on the front of properties were seen charred and mangled by the flames.
Telegraph poles could be seen askew in the ground, warped by the fires.
The inferno is believed to have begun from two points around 300ft apart in an area underneath a bridge where there is a rubbish dump. Local cops are reportedly investigating the cause of the blaze as arson.
It has since emerged that two people have died after they were burned alive in their car. Local media has reported that the pair were an elderly couple who were trying to flee the fires, though they have not been formally identified yet.
At least 10 people were injured, two of them seriously, police said while more are missing and mass evacuations are underway.
The fire in Cyprus comes amid a harsh heatwave, with forecasters expecting the mercury to hit 45C today, which if reached would make it the island's hottest day of the year.
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A timelapse video showed the region being engulfed by uncontrollable flames
Over in Turkey, at least 10 rescue workers were killed after they were unable to contain a punishing blaze sweeping through the central Eskisehir province.
Despite aggressive aerial and ground efforts, including 10 helicopters, five firefighting planes, and 30 fire trucks, unpredictable winds and dry conditions left two dozen emergency workers suddenly facing a raging inferno.
All 24 people were evacuated, but ten lost their lives, having suffered burns and extreme smoke inhalation.
Fourteen more remained in hospital undergoing treatment overnight, officials said.
As dawn broke, a red hue hung over Limassol, a sprawling coastal city where development in recent years has spilled over to its surrounding mountains.
Firefighting aircraft were redeployed at first light after darkness forced a pause.
Authorities said it was too early to give a precise account of damage, or what started the fire.
'We are talking about very strong winds, with gusts, which were constantly interchanging,' fire brigade spokesperson Andreas Kettis said.
A timelapse video showed the fire raging out of control between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
Cyprus has requested help through the European Union's civil protection mechanism, with Spain expected to send two aircraft on Thursday, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. Jordan has also pledged assistance.
The country has struggled with a protracted drought, pushing scarce water resources to critically low levels.
An aerial view shows burnt houses as firefighters battle a forest fire in the Cypriot village of Souni, in the Limassol province, on July 24, 2025
The affected area sits just north of Cyprus's Kouris reservoir, the island's largest. It was at just 15.5% of its capacity on Wednesday.
Turkey is also experiencing savage wildfires amid the heatwave gripping southern Europe.
Some 10 rescue workers died in while battling to contain a wildfire, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on Wednesday.
Firefighters and rescue teams have been fighting since the early hours of Wednesday to contain a wildfire in Eskisehir's Seyitgazi district.
At least 24 firefighters were reportedly trapped in the fire when the wind suddenly changed direction and blew flames towards them, Yumakli told reporters.
They were immediately taken to hospital, but 10 of them died, while treatment for 14 others was ongoing, the minister added last night.
According to Yumakli, five of the victims were forest workers, while the other five were members of the post–disaster search and rescue association AKUT's team, who were assisting with the operation.
The deaths bring the number of fatalities in wildfires that have flared amid strong winds, high temperatures and dry conditions so far in the country this year to 13.
Some 10 rescue workers had their lives taken in Turkey's central Eskisehir province while battling to contain a wildfire, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on Wednesday
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences, stating: '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.'
The fire broke out in the Seyitgazi district of Eskisehir on July 22 and later spread to neighboring Afyonkarahisar's İhsaniye district, prompting a large–scale response from both ground and aerial firefighting teams.
The fire quickly engulfed dense pine forests known for spreading flames through flying embers, leaving firefighters little room to manoeuvre.
Initial investigations suggest a power line malfunction may have sparked the fire in Turkey, although arson has not been ruled out.
By evening, the fire had consumed an estimated 3,700 acres of forest, forcing evacuations of approximately 1,200 residents from nearby villages coordinated by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
Beyond human casualties, the fire devastated local livestock, killing at least 50 farm animals. Turkey's Red Crescent provided critical aid for evacuees displaced by the fire.
More than 130 fires have erupted across the country in the past week, according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate.
The fire quickly engulfed dense pine forests known for spreading flames through flying embers, leaving firefighters little room to maneuver
Most have been brought under control, but eight major fires continued in a number of provinces, including Izmir, Aydin, Manisa, Karabuk and Bolu.
Turkey has been sweltering since Sunday under temperatures between six to 12 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norms, according to weather forecasters.
Several fires have been declared across the country in the tinder–box conditions.
The country battled 11 major wildfires on July 23 alone, nine of which broke out during the day, according to Yumakli.
Authorities have now launched a thorough investigation, analysing satellite data and on–the–ground evidence.
A preliminary report is expected by July 30, with a focus on identifying precise causes and preventing future tragedies.
Minister Yumaklı announced plans to recruit 5,000 additional forestry workers and expand aerial firefighting capacity by adding 10 more planes by 2026.
In a statement following Wednesday's deaths, the minister said: 'My condolences to our entire country.
'We are experiencing a very painful evening. Ten of our forest workers were martyred while trying to extinguish the fires. We are currently shutting down that area.
'We can't believe how this happened in such a small forest, not a very large one.
'They had already escaped danger yesterday, and we were very happy, but today we lost martyrs,' the minister added.
'While responding to a forest fire that broke out in Eskisehir and reached the border of Afyonkarahisar, 19 of our forestry workers and five searching and rescuing volunteers were trapped in the fire due to adverse winds.
'Fourteen of our forestry workers are receiving treatment in hospitals,' he said.
Scientists have long warned that burning fossil fuels is making extreme weather events such as heat waves more likely and more intense.
Experts link the surge to climate change–induced drought and heatwaves that have extended fire seasons and increased fire intensity across the Mediterranean region.
It is expected that high temperatures will continue until at least Monday.