The investigative authorities of Cyprus are checking a possible connection between a series of fires and the activities of an organized group. Over the past week, there have been more than ten fires that could have been set intentionally. One of the key episodes was the incident near the village of Kornos.
On August 2, two suspects tried to set fire to the dry grass there with fireworks.
What happened in Kornos
According to the investigation, on Sunday, two suspects set fire to dry grass in a forest belt using pyrotechnics. At that moment, a couple was driving by who noticed what was happening.
After the witnesses appeared, they stopped the arson attempt. According to the head of the community Stavros Evangelou, instead of stopping the fire, the suspects got into the car laughing and drove away.
The situation could have led to serious consequences: there is a residential area with pine trees nearby, the nearest houses are located about a hundred meters away, and half a kilometer away there is a chapel where at that moment a service was held with the participation of more than 50 people.
Both suspects were arrested for eight days. They are a 28-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, Brazilian citizens. The investigation is checking their possible connection with other cases of fires.
Police suspect arson
Over the past week, authorities have recorded more than ten fires that may be related to arson. In just five days, the fire department and the Forest Department extinguished four fires, which are considered intentional.
Among the verified cases is a series of fires on August 1 near the village of Prodromi in the Paphos region: according to the investigation, arson could have been committed there at least three times. On July 31, they tried to set fire to the grass in three places near the road near Limpia. On Saturday in Paphos, foresters found five fires next to each other and managed to extinguish them before the fire spread.
A fire on the Koshi—Afienou road is being checked separately. According to a representative of the forest department, the fire appeared in several places at a considerable distance from each other, which may indicate intent.
It is noted that not all fires turned out to be arson. The fire in the Kellaki area on Monday, which destroyed about two hectares of pine forest, according to investigators, began due to smoldering coals thrown into a plastic container after cooking souvla. Authorities are also looking for a man in a black SUV, who is being investigated for possible involvement in fires in the areas of Dali, Delicipos and Kornos.
Why are fires becoming more frequent?
For Cyprus, fires remain a constant problem, and most often the cause is human. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 1,450 fires have been registered in rural areas. According to Nikos Longinos, the head of the fire service and coordinator of civil defense, more than 90% of them are related to the human factor.
In 2025, the fire department reported 7,154 such cases, 94% of which were also related to human actions.
Arson in a forest in Cyprus is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. For a fire outside a forest area — up to 14 years. The same punishment may be imposed for attempted arson, as well as for the deliberate destruction of crops and plantations. In practice, the time depends on the circumstances of the case and the evidence.
https://lenta.cy/podzhogi-na-kipre-sledstvie-proverjaet-versiju-ob-organizovannoj-gruppe/
