Newsroom
What began as a quiet night in the mountain village of Lofou turned into a scene from a disaster movie, as police and National Guard forces launched a dramatic overnight rescue to save dozens of residents trapped by wildfire.
The rescue unfolded around 2 a.m., when 36 people who had taken shelter in the courtyard of the village’s primary school were loaded into a police minibus and headed for safety. But their escape was cut short when a wall of fire blocked their route near the nearby village of Pera Pedi, forcing them to turn back.
“It was like something out of a thriller,” said Lofou Community Leader Yiannos Neophytou, who spoke on state radio. “The road was closed off by flames. We had no choice but to return.”
The group spent the rest of the night in the school courtyard. At dawn, most were able to return to their homes, though the danger wasn’t over. Neophytou said around 50 residents remained in the village during the ordeal; some didn’t receive the evacuation message in time, while others chose to stay behind.
“We are safe now,” Neophytou told the Cyprus News Agency. “As soon as I realized what was happening, I sent a message for people to evacuate. Some left, others didn’t hear it, and some didn’t take it seriously.”
While there were no injuries reported, the fire left a trail of destruction around the village. Neophytou estimated that about 20 houses to the north of Lofou, as well as several homes outside the community, were damaged or destroyed.
“Everything around the village has burned,” he said. Smoke was still rising from some homes on Thursday morning, and authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage.
The village remains without electricity, adding to the challenge for emergency crews and residents as they wait for updates and recovery efforts to begin.
Despite the devastation, Neophytou said the community is grateful the rescue operation prevented loss of life.
“We’ve been through a nightmare,” he said. “But we’re alive, and that’s what matters most.”
