Wildfires Kill 12, Evacuate Hundreds Cyprus, Turkey

A massive wildfire in southern Cyprus, fueled by an intense heatwave and strong winds, has resulted in the deaths of two people who were found burned in a vehicle while trying to escape. The fire has destroyed dozens of houses, damaged the electrical grid, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents from multiple villages near Limassol and Paphos. Cypriot authorities are struggling to contain the blaze, which has been described as one of the most destructive in the country's history, and have mobilized all available firefighting forces. Cyprus has requested assistance through the European Union’s civil protection mechanism, with Spain and Jordan pledging firefighting aircraft support. Meanwhile, Turkey is battling a separate massive wildfire in the Eskisehir province, where at least 10 rescue workers have died and 14 others were injured amid challenging conditions. These wildfires highlight the severe drought and extreme heat conditions affecting the Mediterranean region, complicating firefighting efforts and increasing the risk of further large-scale fires.