Chain vehicles were still battline late afternoon, a massive blaze that's been burning out of control since 10 this morning in rural Paphos, on the outskirts of the Koili community, with fire fighting trucks finding it difficult to break through, as the local authority president Michalis Efthimiou told reporters, citing rough terrain.
The blaze destroyed a small decades old cypress tree forest situated in a ravine, which makes it almost impossible for ground crews to approach. The good news however is that surrounding communities are no longer at risk.
Efthimiou critisised response standards, saying that more aerial support should have been deployed. He further claimed that this was definitely foul play.
'Only someone walking in the area could have caused the fire', he added, in support of his arson argument, as no vehicles can get close enough.
A November blaze was unprecedented, he stressed, but temperatures are still high.