Newsroom
What was meant to be a safe escape from a fast-moving wildfire turned into tragedy for an elderly couple from the village of Silikou, who were found burned to death in their car after taking the wrong road while trying to flee the flames, according to Kathimerini's Marios Christofi.
The vehicle, later confirmed to belong to a 77-year-old woman reported missing, was discovered charred near the Monagriou road, a route that had become dangerously engulfed by fire during the evacuation.
“We told them to take the Agios Mamas road, but they went toward Monagri instead,” said Nikos Arestis, the head of the Silikou community, speaking to Kathimerini. “That road should have been blocked. It was dangerous, and there was no police control.”
Arestis explained that once the police ordered the village evacuation by phone, local leaders rang the church bells and went door to door, urging residents to meet at the village square for further instructions. The advice was clear: use the Agios Mamas road to escape.
But amid the panic and smoke, the couple took a different route, one already threatened by the wildfire’s path. It’s unclear why the change was made or whether road conditions or visibility played a role.
The couple’s bodies have not yet been formally identified. A forensic examination has been completed, but DNA testing is required due to the condition of the remains.
The tragedy has raised questions about why the Monagriou road was left open, especially after it was known to be in the fire's trajectory.
“People did their best on the ground to get everyone out, but we need answers,” Arestis said. “There was no police presence on that road, and this could have been avoided.”
The heartbreaking loss of the elderly couple is just one of many painful stories emerging in the aftermath of the massive wildfire that scorched over 125 square kilometers of land across the Limassol district earlier this week.
As rescue workers, volunteers, and officials continue recovery operations, the tragedy serves as a somber reminder of how quickly wildfires can turn deadly, and how critical it is to ensure clear, coordinated evacuations when every second counts.
