An unextinguished cigarette that was inadvertently thrown away caused the large forest fire near Limassol on July 23, which killed two people and devastated an area of over 100 square kilometers, according to a report by the American Fire and Arson Investigation Unit, quoted by the publication “Cyprus Mail“, BTA reported.
Members of the US Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Unit were invited by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, to assist in the investigation and assessment of the management of the devastating fire in the mountainous area of Limassol. The experts began their work at the beginning of the month and yesterday published their official report on the fire.
“The cause of the fire was a carelessly discarded unextinguished cigarette that came into contact with dry vegetation“, the US experts' report said, noting that after hearing witnesses and reviewing cameras in the area, it was determined that the flames broke out near the road between the villages of Arsos and Malia.
The report also stated that “based on the amount and condition of the garbage that had accumulated in the area where the fire broke out, it was determined that the site had been used for illegal dumping for a long time“, noting that hot weather and prolonged drought in the area also contributed to the outbreak of the fire.