Police have provided unclear details about the deaths of an elderly couple who perished in their car during the Limassol wildfire, according to an official report that mentions roadblocks but fails to fully clarify the circumstances.
The report references road closures implemented by police but does not provide complete details about the scenario involving Dimitris and Maro Philippidi, who were found dead in their vehicle.
Sylikou community leader Nikos Aresti had previously raised concerns about the handling of the incident, explaining that after evacuation orders were issued for the village, the couple mistakenly used the Platres-Limassol road instead of departing via the Trimiklini route.
Aresti had stated that whilst police took measures to prevent drivers travelling from Limassol towards Platres, they failed to implement similar restrictions in the opposite direction.
Police account of events
According to the police incident report, officers secured scenes, implemented roadblocks according to the fire’s progression and, in cooperation with Civil Defence and other services, evacuated communities, monasteries and camping areas.
The report notes that due to the fire’s spread towards Lofou village and the entrapment of 30 people there, the Fire Service and Civil Defence requested police assistance with the village evacuation.
Rescue efforts lasted from 20:00 on 23 July 2025 until the early hours of 24 July 2025.
At 19:47, instructions were given to a police officer in Sylikou village to locate a safe route from Lofou to Alassa for resident evacuation. Whilst heading towards Alassa, the officer encountered dense smoke and was forced to return towards Trimiklini.
The officer directed following vehicles towards Trimiklini and implemented a roadblock for 2.5 hours. The Trimiklini-Alassa road was blocked in both directions by police patrol cars.
Discovery of victims
At 21:00, a Civil Defence member travelling towards Monagri, after Alassa and before the shooting range, spotted a burning vehicle containing one person. Police were notified and dispatched Traffic Accident Investigation unit members to investigate.
Examinations revealed the vehicle, registration number HYK965, was registered to Maro Philippidi. Two bodies were found inside the burnt car, identified through DNA testing on 29 July 2025 as Dimitris and Maro Philippidi.
Limassol Traffic Accident Investigation Unit is investigating the case as an unnatural death.
Police recommendations
Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis submitted three recommendations to the President regarding the Command Station, information management and the national “Pyrsos” emergency plan.
The report states police “immediately took all necessary measures to secure fire scenes with road blocks and ensure access for fire vehicles and involved services, whilst cooperating with other services to protect citizens and evacuate villages, monasteries and camping areas”.
Arnaoutis recommended restricting access to the advanced Command Station to personnel directly involved in firefighting or crisis management. He also proposed appointing a single, predetermined press spokesperson to represent all services and suggested revising the Special National Plan “Pyrsos”.
The operation involved 145 police officers and 54 police vehicles, including buses. Limassol Police Directorate was reinforced with personnel from Traffic Headquarters and the Mobile Immediate Action Unit.
On 24 July 2025, additional support came from Larnaca Police Directorate and Marine and Port Police.
