Residents of southern Cyprus described scenes of devastation and personal loss on Thursday (July 24), as they returned to charred homes and scorched land following a deadly wildfire that killed two people and forced hundreds to flee.

"When dawn came we saw a catastrophe of biblical proportions,” said resident Kostas Hatzikonstantinou.

"It’s an unspeakable tragedy for everyone ... Unfortunately, we'll no longer have this paradise that we enjoyed for so many years."

Burned-out cars, collapsed roofs, and blackened churches lay in the hillside villages of Souni and nearby Kantou, where firefighting helicopters continued dumping water on smouldering ground.

The fire, which broke out Wednesday amid 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) heat and strong winds, tore through at least 100 square kilometres north of Limassol, devastating a wine-producing region already suffering from drought.

As emergency teams worked to contain remaining hotspots, some locals criticised the government's response.

"Once again, the state is too late, after the fact," said Hatzikonstantinou.

Cyprus has appealed for help through the EU civil protection mechanism, with Spain and Jordan among those offering assistance.

A full assessment of the damage is still underway.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SOUNI VILLAGE, LIMASSOL, CYPRUS (JULY 24, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTING HELICOPTERS DROPPING WATER TO EXTINGUISH REMAINS OF THE FIRE

2. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS AT THE SCENE AT THE ENTRANCE OF SOUNI VILLAGE

3. VARIOUS OF RESIDENT OF KANTOU VILLAGE NEAR SOUNI, ANTONIS CHRISTOU, INSPECTING THE DAMAGE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT OF KANTOU VILLAGE NEAR SOUNI, ANTONIS CHRISTOU, SAYING:

“It was a struggle to make it home. I got into my house and saw the mountain opposite me was burning, the entire plain was ablaze. I called the fire department - there are animal pens next to me - so they could send help because the fire was coming straight at us.”

5. HELICOPTER DROPPING WATER

6. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS AT THE SCENE EXTINGUISHING REMAINS OF THE FIRE

7. HELICOPTER FLYING THROUGH ORANGE SMOKE-FILLED SKY

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT, KOSTAS HATZIKONSTANTINOU, SAYING:

“It reminded me of 74’. Because in '74 I had to leave my house and I was 16 and a half years old. I felt the same. I cried. I cried honestly that the world was burning down. Then I found out that a man burned to death in a car. And than another is missing.”

9. REMAINS OF A BURNED HOME

10. REMAINS OF A BURNED CAR

11. VARIOUS OF INTERIORS OF A BURNED HOME

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT, KOSTAS HATZIKONSTANTINOU, SAYING:

“When dawn came we saw a catastrophe of biblical proportions. It’s an unspeakable tragedy for everyone. Mostly for the residents of the area. Unfortunately, we'll no longer have this paradise that we enjoyed for so many years."

13. VARIOUS OF BURNED HOMES

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT, KOSTAS HATZIKONSTANTINOU, SAYING:

“Unfortunately, once again the state is responding too late after the fact. I hope even so that it will stand by everyone who was destroyed. So they can at least even now rebuild what they can. To build, to restore whatever we can."

15. VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS AND INTERIORS OF A BURNED CHURCH

16. VARIOUS OF CHARRED FIELD