Latest news with #rescue teams
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Daily Mail
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
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. Are YOU affected by the wildfires? Email 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.
CNN
20-07-2025
- Climate
- CNN
Boy survives Vietnam tourist boat sinking that killed dozens by sheltering in air pocket
A boy survived the sinking of a tourist boat in Vietnam which killed dozens of people by sheltering in an air pocket of the overturned vessel, it has emerged. The 10-year-old had been traveling with his family in Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay when the vessel they were sailing on became caught in a sudden storm. Trapped in the boat as it capsized, the boy found refuge in an underwater air pocket, where he stayed and waited for help. He was eventually found by rescue teams relatively unharmed, although he was suffering from mental distress. He was warmed up and transferred to a nearby hospital, local outlet VietnamNet reported. 'Everything happened so fast,' the boy said. 'I tried to get out, and then the soldiers rescued me.' Search and rescue efforts are continuing for missing passengers and crew after sightseeing ship the Wonder Sea capsized in a squall on Saturday but have been hampered by bad weather. At least 37 people are confirmed dead from the sinking, state media reported, revising down an earlier toll but warning that it could still rise further. Vietnam News said there were 53 passengers and crew on board and 10 people had been rescued. Another survivor, a 36-year-old Vietnamese man, described escaping the overturned boat by dumping his life jacket and swimming through an underwater window. Fire extinguisher salesman Dang Anh Tuan described the moment the vessel suddenly capsized during bad weather, leaving little time for those on board to react. 'It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned,' Tuan told the Associated Press. He said that the boat quickly filled with water and he lost all orientation. 'I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down. I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help,' he said. Tuan, along with several others who had been on board, clung onto the overturned boat and waited for another two hours in pouring rain until emergency crews arrived. He'd been holidaying in Vietnam's popular tourist bay with 11 university friends. Only three of their group survived. VN Express reported that the Wonder Sea was caught in a storm around 1.30 p.m. local time (2.30 a.m. ET), which caused it to capsize. Most of the passengers were from the Vietnamese capital Hanoi and traveling as families, according to VN Express, which reported the eldest passenger as 53 years old and the youngest as just 3. Over 20 children were on board, VNExpress said. The capsize reportedly happened near the Dau Go Cave – one of the largest in the bay. Halong Bay is a popular tourist hotspot and a UNESCO world heritage site comprising about 1,600 limestone islands and islets. CNN's Eve Brennan, Max Saltman and TuAnh Dam contributed reporting.
