Cyprus wildfire: Two die in burned car as 44C heat expected
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Two die in car during Cyprus wildfire as 44C heat expected
Two charred bodies found in burnt out vehicle in Limassol district. More than a dozen other people treated for injuries related to the fire. Fire has already destroyed homes and ravaged 100 sq km (40 sq m) of land. Temperatures expected to climb to 44C on Thursday in inland areas of the island. Fire service says there are “no active fronts” in the fire, but “flare-ups” continue in the area. Neighbouring countries have been asked to support the firefighting effort by the Cypriot government.
Two people have died in a car in a wildfire which has torn through southern Cyprus amid soaring temperatures which are expected to climb to 44C on Thursday.
Cypriot police said two charred bodies were found in a burnt out vehicle after the blaze started in the village of Malia in the Limassol district on Wednesday afternoon.
The bodies are yet to be formally identified, but local media reports say the car belonged to a 77-year-old woman who had been reported missing. The pair are understood to be an elderly couple from the area.
More than a dozen other people have been treated for injuries related to the fire, which has already destroyed homes and ravaged 100 sq km (40 sq m) of land.
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More than 250 firefighters were deployed to battle the fire, which has been fanned by strong winds on soaring temperatures.
The country’s Department of Meteorology has issued an extreme maximum temperature alert for Thursday, with a high of 44C expected in inland areas.
Cyprus Fire Service spokesperson Andreas Kettis said there were “no active fronts” in the fire, but “flare-ups” continued in the area.
Several communities have been left without electricity or air conditioning as a result of the blaze, which tore through properties.
“When I entered my house, I saw the mountain and the valley full of flames,” Antonis Christou, who lives in Kandou, one of the villages affected by the fire, told the AFP agency.
“I cried, really I cried, because people got burnt”.
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Neighbouring countries have been asked to support the firefighting effort by the Cypriot government.
Cyprus has requested support for its firefighting effort through the European Union’s civil protection mechanism.
Spain is expected to send two aircraft on Thursday, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said.
Two firefighting aircraft are on standby in Jordan, while two more are expected from Spain, Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis told public broadcaster CyBC.
Witness testimony which suggests the fire was started deliberately has been passed onto police by the fire service.
Europe has faced searing temperatures this summer during heatwaves, with wildfires also taking hold in the Greek island of Crete, Turkey and Spain.
Cyprus, which is facing a drought, is routinely hit by wildfires during the summer months.
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In 2021, four Egyptian farm workers died in a wildfire which burned an area of around 55 sq km (21 sq m) in the Limassol district.
Changes to Benefits
The government has proposed major changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit (UC) But after public and political pressure, many of the planned reforms have been scaled back. The reforms passed their second reading in Parliament on 1st July, but key changes will depend on the outcome of a review.
But after public and political pressure, many of the planned reforms have been scaled back.
What’s Changing – PIP
Original Plan: Tighten rules for the daily living component, requiring higher scores in individual activities (e.g., preparing food, washing) to qualify.
Now: Only new applicants will be affected by the new criteria – and only after a formal review concludes.
Existing claimants and those reassessed will not face any changes for now.
What’s Changing – Universal Credit
Original Plan: Cut the monthly health-related top-up for new claimants from £416.19 to £216 starting November 2025.
Now: Some exemptions introduced for those with severe, lifelong conditions.
The standard UC allowance will rise above inflation until 2029/30 – worth around £725 extra for a single adult by then.
Existing claimants will continue to receive the current rate, which will be frozen until 2029/30.
What’s Next?
The reforms passed their second reading in Parliament on 1st July, but key changes will depend on the outcome of a review. So, it’s possible some or all changes may not go ahead.
Fears 44C heatwave will fuel Cyprus wildfires as two are burned alive after blaze ‘sparked by arson’ tears across island
Two people were burnt alive in a vehicle on Wednesday while trying to flee an inferno in the south of the island. Police are investigating claims of arson after eyewitnesses reported the fire was started deliberately at two separate points near a garbage dump. Over 100 people in the Cypriot districts of Limassol and Paphos were forced to evacuate after a fire broke out at around midday on Wednesday. Temperatures on the island peaked at 43C on Wednesday, triggering an amber weather alert. The Cypriots Department of Meteorology warns that the mercury will hit 44C on Friday, raising fears that the wildfires could spread even further. In Turkey, wildfires killed 10 people – five forest workers and five rescuers – and injured 14 others, agriculture minister Ibrahim Yumakli said. One person was arrested in connection with the forest fire that broke out Karabük’s Ovacık district, reports Turkish newspaper Hürriyet. The fire had burned 3,700 acres and forced 1,200 people to evacuate nearby villages.
WILDFIRES raging in Cyprus could worsen with searing 44C heat tomorrow as the blaze continues to rip across the island.
Two people were burnt alive in a vehicle on Wednesday while trying to flee an inferno in the south of the island.
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11 Two people were burnt alive in a vehicle on Wednesday Credit: AP
11 People watch as a wildfire rages on a hillside Credit: instagram/@haiyangumi/
11 Burnt houses are seen in Souni village, Cyprus Credit: AP
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Over 100 people in the Cypriot districts of Limassol and Paphos were forced to evacuate after a fire broke out at around midday on Wednesday, according to Cyprus’ Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis.
Shocking footage filmed from inside a car shows fire ravaging the village of Souni in Limassol district, with devastating images the next day revealing burnt-out homes and cars.
The fire scorched 38.6 square miles of forested hillsides on the southern side of the island’s Troodos mountain range.
Temperatures on the island peaked at 43C on Wednesday, triggering an amber weather alert.
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The Cypriot Department of Meteorology warns that the mercury will hit 44C on Friday, raising fears that the wildfires could spread even further.
Police are investigating claims of arson after eyewitnesses reported the fire was started deliberately at two separate points near a garbage dump, fire brigade chief Nikos Longinos told Cyprus’ broadcaster.
By Thursday morning, fire service spokesperson Andreas Kettis said there were no active fronts, but crews were still battling flare-ups.
He added that winds are expected to pick up later in the day and up to 14 aircraft continue to drop water over hard-to-reach areas.
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Spain will send two firefighting planes on Thursday morning, government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis said, while Jordan is helping out with two of its own.
An RAF Chinook helicopter operating from one of Cyprus’ British bases is also pitching in.
11 A helicopter douses flames as firefighters battle a forest fire in the Cypriot village of Souni Credit: AFP
11 A wildfire, filmed by a person in a car, rages across the hills of southern Cyprus
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11 A wildfire, filmed by a person in a car, rages across the hills of southern Cyprus Credit: instagram/@tanya.hinkel/
11 A different wildfire ravages a forested area in northwest Turkey Credit: AP
Wildfires rip across Spain turning Madrid skies ORANGE as army deployed with fears wild winds will wreak havoc today
The island has been on high alert for fires this summer after three dry winters in a row.
Meanwhile in Turkey, wildfires killed 10 people – five forest workers and five rescuers – and injured 14 others, agriculture minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on Wednesday.
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Despite 10 helicopters, five firefighting planes and 30 fire engines battling the blaze, unpredictable winds trapped at least 24 firefighters when the flames suddenly shifted direction, the minister told reporters.
They were rushed to hospital, but 10 died and 14 others remain in treatment, Yumakli added.
The fire broke out in Seyitgazi district, Eskisehir, before spreading to the İhsaniye district in neighbouring Afyonkarahisar.
By the evening, the fire had burned 3,700 acres and forced 1,200 people to evacuate nearby villages.
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Temperatures across Turkey have topped 40C since Sunday.
One person was arrested in connection with the forest fire that broke out Karabük’s Ovacık district, reports Turkish newspaper Hürriyet.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences: “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.”
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It comes as two people died and thousands were evacuated after fires broke out in Turkey’s Kuyucak and Doğanbey areas in early July.
Firefighters battled more than 600 blazes that week, fuelled by high winds in the drought-hit country.
11 An aerial view shows burnt houses after a wildfire ravaged southern Cyprus Credit: AFP
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11 A charred vehicle sits next to a burnt house as firefighters battle a forest fire in the Cypriot village of Souni Credit: AFP
Northern Lights dance above Earth in stunning footage from space
The video was captured by astronaut Anne McClain on the International Space Station. It follows a solar flare that caused space weather alerts on Friday. The Northern Lights are expected to be more active in the coming days, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
It was shared by NASA astronaut, Anne McClain, who is onboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, docked with the International Space Station.
Recent geomagnetic storms have given an increased chance of seeing the Northern Lights. This one followed a solar flare emitted from the Sun on Friday, triggering space weather alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but caused minimal disruption on Earth.
The aurora is likely to be more active in the coming nights because of “minor” geomagnetic storms, according to the latest NOAA forecast.
Whilst the aurora will be visible over many areas of North America, some northern areas of Scotland will also have a higher chance of seeing them.
Posting the video on X, McClain said:
“I love how this one illuminated our Dragon, and I also love the dance of satellites on the left in the latter part of the video.
“It’s interesting how the aurora creeps along the top of the atmosphere as it comes up over the horizon.
“I have added traveling to see auroras from Earth to my bucket list.”
UK weather warms up for weekend
High pressure stays with us on Friday and into the weekend. Temperatures will widely reach the low 20Cs this weekend and will probably peak at around 25C on Sunday.
This is why the weather is going to be a lot sunnier and warmer.
Temperatures will widely reach the low 20Cs this weekend and will probably peak at around 25C in the warmest spots on Sunday.
Although the weather will stay dry for most places, there may well be a few thunderstorms arriving from France and moving into south-west England and south Wales bringing some hit and miss rain. For most places though, the weather is likely to stay dry for a long while yet.
Keep up to date with the forecast where you are with the BBC weather app and BBC weather online.