Police have begun taking witness statements to determine whether a deadly fire in the Limassol mountains was caused by arson or originated from a rubbish dump, after the fire chief claimed the blaze was deliberately set.
Two people died in the fire that broke out in the mountainous Malia community of Limassol, with their bodies discovered after flames engulfed their vehicle in the Alassa area.
Fire Service Chief Nikos Longinos yesterday said eyewitnesses who called the fire service saw the blaze start from two points 100 metres apart beneath a bridge where a rubbish dump is located. He described it as “clear case of arson” and said a fire had broken out at the same location days earlier.
Longinos provided witness details to the police chief and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for follow-up, whilst rejecting claims of delayed response. He said a fully-staffed fire engine reached the scene six minutes after receiving the emergency call.
Police have assigned Limassol CID to investigate the information provided by the fire service. Sources say officers have already located the citizen who witnessed the fire’s outbreak and taken his statement. Police are also taking statements from area residents, firefighters who received the initial call, and others.
The crucial factor that will determine whether the deadly fire was caused by arson is whether the eyewitness saw any person or vehicle at the scene or leaving the area when he observed the two fire sources at the rubbish dump. This has not yet been confirmed.
Police spokeswoman Kyriaki Lambrianidou said yesterday that police are investigating both the fire’s causes and the circumstances under which the two victims died. She said all possibilities are being examined, including arson.
Authorities noted that rubbish dumps can easily ignite in high temperatures, which has occurred frequently in the past without human intervention. Some individuals deliberately set fires to burn rubbish dumps, which can then spread and cause wildfires. The fire service responds to dozens of rubbish dump fires annually.
Police are examining whether CCTV cameras in the area captured movement during the critical time. Investigations are ongoing, and police yesterday appealed for public assistance, asking anyone with information to contact them.
Police await DNA test results to identify the two bodies before making any announcements. Limassol CID knows the victims’ identities but will not release information until scientific identification is complete. The Sylikou community leader confirmed the victims were two village residents.
The victims are believed to be an elderly man and woman who owned a holiday home in the village. They appeared to have been attempting to evacuate when flames engulfed their vehicle in Alassa.
If the fire is determined to be arson, police will investigate a double homicide case.
Authorities are also examining whether the road the victims were travelling should have been closed and why it remained open. Questions have been raised about informing elderly residents or those with health conditions who cannot receive announcements through social media, an issue that may require review by civil protection services.
Parliament will examine issues arising from the deadly fire in an emergency session on 5 August. The chair of the House Interior Committee, Aristos Damianou, announced that the Interior, Agriculture and Environment committees will convene to receive briefings on the response.
Damianou wrote on social media platform X that it is “a time for support and solidarity. Our homeland has become a barren place, unfortunately, with victims. Well done to all who fought the firestorm.”
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