The Fire Service has completed its investigation into the deadly wildfire in Limassol and concluded the blaze was likely started maliciously, a service spokesman said on Thursday.
Andreas Kettis told state CyBC radio that a commission examining witness testimonies, statements and on-site inspections reached the preliminary conclusion that the fire was probably set deliberately. The final report will be submitted to the police.
The wildfire that killed two people and burned thousands of hectares in the Limassol district in July.
Findings contradict report by US experts
A separate report by American experts referenced in the investigation states that cigarette use, placement or disposal cannot be ruled out as a potential cause, Kettis said.
However, the American experts noted that lack of witness evidence leaves open the possibility of malicious action, according to the Fire Service spokesman.
Kettis indicated that investigators identified the fire’s point of origin very close to a landfill site, a detail that features in both the Fire Service investigation and the American experts’ assessment.
The proximity to waste disposal facilities could provide additional context for investigators examining potential causes and circumstances surrounding the fire’s ignition.