Latest news with #Firefighters
CTV News
an hour ago
- General
- CTV News
Power out in northwestern Manitoba town due to wildfire that also destroyed one home
Firefighters are battling a blaze that has entered the community of Leaf Rapids and damaged several structures. CTV's Jeff Keele has more.
ABC News
a day ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Two found dead in car as Cyprus wildfire rages on
Firefighters in Cyprus are battling for a second day to control a massive wildfire which has engulfed mountain villages in the eastern Mediterranean island. Two people were found dead in their car, trapped by the blaze which started on Wednesday, local time. Scores of homes were destroyed as people fled their homes overnight from a towering wall of flames north of the city of Limassol. Although the cause was not immediately known, authorities said they would be looking at the possibility of arson. "It was sheer hell," said Father Michalis, a Greek Orthodox priest who had to evacuate his village. After subsiding early Thursday, authorities were struggling to contain flare-ups at midday, stoked by strong winds. "Our focus right now is to control the fire, utilising to the maximum all ground and air forces," government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. "We are facing an unprecedented situation." The fire, which broke out Wednesday amid 44-degree heat and strong winds, tore through at least 100 square kilometres, devastating a wine-producing region already suffering from drought. A new amber warning was in place on Thursday, with highs forecast to hit 44 degrees Celsius — the hottest of the year so far. Cyprus has struggled with a drought, pushing scarce water resources to critically low levels. The affected area sits just north of Cyprus's Kouris reservoir, the island's largest. It was at just over 15 per cent of its capacity on Wednesday. Although heatwaves and wildfires are common in this region, their impact on human life and the damage has become much more pronounced in recent years. "It's an unspeakable tragedy for everyone … Unfortunately, we'll no longer have this paradise that we enjoyed for so many years," said resident Kostas Hatzikonstantinou. Burned-out cars, collapsed roofs, and blackened churches lay in the hillside villages of Souni and nearby Kantou, where firefighting helicopters continued dumping water on smouldering ground. Firefighters across Türkiye also battled multiple wildfires on Thursday amid a heatwave that killed 10 firefighters. At least six separate wildfires burned across Turkey and Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli warned that strong winds and scorching heat were creating extremely dangerous conditions. Late on Wednesday, Yumakli said 10 firefighters were killed while battling a fire in the central Eskisehir province, adding that 14 others were injured. Reuters/ABC
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Two dead, homes burn in massive Cyprus wildfire
Two people were killed and hundreds evacuated as a massive wildfire tore through southern Cyprus, destroying homes and threatening communities amid an intense heatwave. Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze after it erupted in mountainous terrain north of the southern city of Limassol around midday Wednesday, driven by strong winds and searing temperatures. Overnight, two people were found dead in a burned-out vehicle, while authorities continued efforts to evacuate residents trapped in the village of Lofou, about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Limassol. 'The situation is very difficult and the fire front is huge. All forces have been mobilized,' Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told reporters from the scene earlier. Temperatures on the island reached 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, triggering an amber weather alert. Conditions are expected to worsen Thursday, with highs forecast to hit 44 degrees — the hottest day of the year so far. Firefighting aircraft were expected to resume operations at first light after darkness forced a pause. Homes were burning in the Souni-Zanakia communities early Thursday, the fire brigade said. Cyprus has requested assistance through the European Union's civil protection mechanism, with Spain expected to send two aircraft on Thursday, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. Jordan has also pledged support. The island has been grappling with a protracted drought that has pushed its scarce water resources to critically low levels. The affected area sits just north of the Kouris reservoir — Cyprus's largest — which was at only 15.5 percent of capacity on Wednesday.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Climate
- Reuters
Two dead, homes burn in massive Cyprus wildfire
NICOSIA, July 24 (Reuters) - Two people were killed and hundreds evacuated as a massive wildfire tore through southern Cyprus, destroying homes and threatening communities amid an intense heatwave. Firefighters were struggling to contain the blaze after it erupted in mountainous terrain north of the southern city of Limassol midday Wednesday, driven by strong winds and searing temperatures. Overnight, two people were found dead in a burned-out vehicle, while authorities continued to struggle to evacuate people trapped in the village of Lofou, about 26 kilometres (16 miles) from Limassol. "The situation is very difficult and the fire front is huge. All forces have been mobilised," Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told reporters from the scene earlier. Temperatures on the island reached 43 degrees Centigrade (109.4 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, triggering an amber weather alert. Conditions are expected to worsen Thursday, with highs forecast to hit 44 degrees - the hottest day of the year so far. Firefighting aircraft were expected to be redeployed at first light after darkness forced a pause. Homes were burning in the Souni-Zanakia communities early Thursday, the fire brigade said. Cyprus has requested help through the European Union's civil protection mechanism, with Spain expected to send two aircraft on Thursday, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. Jordan has also pledged assistance. Cyprus has struggled with a protracted drought, pushing scarce water resources to critically low levels. The affected area sits just north of Cyprus's Kouris reservoir, the island's largest. It was at just 15.5% of its capacity on Wednesday.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Climate
- Reuters
Cyprus struggles to contain wildfire, homes damaged
NICOSIA, July 23 (Reuters) - Firefighters in Cyprus were battling on Wednesday to contain a huge wildfire forcing the evacuation of at least four villages on the first day of a heatwave which sent temperatures soaring. Authorities said the fire was raging in terrain north of the southern city of Limassol, stoked by strong winds and high temperatures. "I can confirm that there is considerable damage to some dwellings," fire brigade spokesperson Andreas Kettis told Cyprus's state broadcaster CyBC. He said 14 aircraft and workers on the ground were trying to extinguish the blaze, which broke out around midday on Wednesday. Temperatures on the east Mediterranean island hit 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) inland on Wednesday, forcing authorities to issue an amber weather warning. It was expected to climb further to 44 C on Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year. Although heatwaves and forest fires are common, the impact on human life and the damage have become more pronounced in recent years. Four men from Egypt died in a fire in 2021.
