Cyprus struggles to contain wildfire, homes damaged

NICOSIA (Reuters) -Firefighters in Cyprus were battling on Wednesday to contain a huge wildfire forcing the evacuation of at least four villages on the first day of a heatwave which sent temperatures soaring.

Authorities said the fire was raging in terrain north of the southern city of Limassol, stoked by strong winds and high temperatures. A fire brigade spokesperson said there had been 'considerable damage' to homes in the region, known for its vineyards.

Cyprus said it had requested assistance to contain the fire under a European Union assistance scheme, while neighbouring Jordan would be sending help, President Nikos Christodoulides said.

"The situation is very difficult and the fire front is huge. All forces have been mobilised," he told reporters at the scene.

Authorities said 14 aircraft and workers on the ground were trying to extinguish the blaze, which broke out around midday on Wednesday. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear.

Temperatures on the east Mediterranean island hit 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) inland on Wednesday, forcing authorities to issue an amber weather warning. It was expected to climb further to 44 C on Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year.

Although heatwaves and forest fires are common, the impact on human life and the damage have become more pronounced in recent years. Four men from Egypt died in a fire in 2021.

(Writing by Michele Kambas;Editing by Alison Williams and Diane Craft)

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