President Christodoulides is looking far across the Atlantic for specialist assistance in seeking answers to the why’s of the coordination gaps that caused the most destructive blaze in the history of the country, which killed two people and lay waste to more than 100 kilometres of homes, businesses and a unique natural habitat in rural Limassol.
After what he’s seen in the reports of competent services involved in firefighting and evacuation efforts, the President has invited a ten member expert team from the United States to help with the investigation, but more significantly assess crisis management and suggest next steps that can prevent future disasters.
The American mission, as Philenews reports, is due in Cyprus tomorrow and will be operating along the lines of a similar investigative group that was sent over by the FBI to look into Cypriot companies that had been working with Russian firms in violation of Ukraine sanctions.
According to government circles cited by Phileleftheros, the President’s move to recall foreign experts indicates that he is willing and determined to go beyond the omissions reported in the local services accounts of the fire-namely by Police–Fire Service–Department of Forests and Civil Defence-and trust the expertise and know how of the experienced US professionals in producing even more tangible results.
The reports will form an initial base of action and reference for the Americans, but it’s not the only thing they will be sniffing into while in Cyprus and visiting the affected areas, as the government does not consider the reports satisfactory when it comes to the changes that are needed in crisis management and coordination. The services themselves admit as much, clearly indicating in their own reports that previous proposals have never materialised.
The American experts-part of a service under the Justice Ministry- who have investigated massive fires on US soil, including California and Miami, but also internationally (invited by other countries) will take to their tasks with immediate effect tomorrow and are expected to remain on the island over the next ten days.
They will investigate the causes and conditions of the Limassol fire, how it spread, burning unchecked for almost two days, as well as the fire fighting methods and measures followed and implemented during the crisis.
They will then look into the management of the fire and submit their own proposals as to possible gaps and omissions, additional action needed, possible strengthening of aerial support or ground forces and possibly setting up effective population evacuation systems.
In a written statement, the President said he had asked for the support of competent American authorities to investigate and evaluate the management of the recent fires, with the US responding, as he said, by sending, ‘as a first step, a ten member experts group, specialised and experienced in investigating similar disasters in the US and abroad’.
Following their mission, the government noted, the US experts will be submitting a relevant report directly to the President.
According to the Phileleftheros sources, the arrival of the American team means that any cabinet reshuffling thoughts are moved post-summer, with the priority now to amend the mistakes recorded during management and evacuation efforts on July 23rd.
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