The health services have angrily rejected police claims about ambulance absence during the deadly Limassol mountain fire, demanding authorities immediately retract statements questioning their emergency response.
State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) spokesman Charalambos Charillaou publicly disputed the police report’s references to missing ambulances during the crisis, stating health services remained at the scene throughout the emergency and continue providing support.
The dispute arose following publication of a police report examining state service coordination during the fatal mountain fire, with references to ambulance absence at the fire location triggering strong reactions from health authorities.
Ambulance service deployed 9 vehicles during mountain fire
“The Ambulance Service was present and covered the entire area with 9 ambulances,” Charillaou told Phileleftheros. “We had mobilised rescue vehicles. We had designated personnel for potential patient airlifts and evacuations from the fire area.”
Health services established a first aid station in Kypides, later relocating the centre to Erimi when fire spread threatened staff safety. “Our personnel were at risk when the fire expanded and the First Aid centre was moved to Erimi,” the spokesman said.
Charillaou emphasised continuous coordination existed: “There was always an Ambulance Service representative at the Coordination Centre. Unless they mean we should have had an ambulance there just to distribute panadol. The ambulances were in the field providing first aid to citizens.”
Health officials demand police retract absence claims
The spokesman challenged any questioning of ambulance presence, stating GPS tracking provides definitive proof of deployment. “We can prove at any moment where each ambulance was located. Our ambulances have GPS and through this we can prove where they were and refute claims about their absence.”
Health services treated 82 citizens across two first aid centres and Pachna Health Centre. Emergency departments remained on full alert, with 21 people taken to Limassol General Hospital, seven requiring admission including two treated at Nicosia Hospital’s burns unit.
Mental Health Services continue providing support to area residents, Charillaou noted, with health services maintaining presence whilst other agencies departed after fire suppression.
“All other services left once the fire was extinguished. We remained there and continue to remain there,” he stated. “Health Services are still in the area providing psychological and other support, so nobody is justified in speaking about Health Services absence.”
The spokesman concluded with a direct challenge: “Police must immediately retract what they state in their report. It does not correspond to reality.”
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