Cyprus ready for wildfire season, says agriculture minister
Fact: The primary focus of the exercise was to assess the effectiveness of the national firefighting strategy ‘Hephaestus’ for large forest fire suppression.
firefighting
What we know about the crashed helicopter carrying Iran’s president
The helicopter that crashed in Iran, killing the president and foreign minister, was a Bell 212 model. Bell developed the aircraft in the late 1960s for the Canadian military, and it is used globally for various purposes. The Bell 212 can carry passengers, cargo, and mount weapons. Non-military organizations and countries like Japan, the United States, and Thailand operate the Bell 212. Iran’s current fleet includes Italian-built naval versions of the helicopter. The most recent fatal crash involving a Bell 212 was in 2023 off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Iran has managed to keep its aviation fleets flying through a combination of smuggled parts and reverse-engineering. The accident does not automatically fall under global rules for air accident probes, and it is unlikely that Iran will seek outside help for the investigation.
Cypriot tech company takes a bold leap into mixed reality
– Ascation was founded by George Tziazas and Minas Kyriakou in 2015.
– They started with game development but transitioned to mixed reality in 2018.
– Ascanio aims to revolutionize mission-critical training across industries using mixed reality technology.
– They received support from Kinisis Ventures and Fameline Holding Group for investment and networking opportunities.
– Ascanio’s technology provides immersive training for high-risk scenarios in various industries.
– They focus on safety, real-time feedback, and comprehensive debriefing in their training solutions.
– Ascanio’s platform integrates biosensing and haptic feedback for a realistic training experience.
– They have developed a physiotherapy module in collaboration with the University of Nicosia for Parkinson’s patients.
– George and Minas actively support the tech community in Cyprus through mentorship and participation in internship programs.
– Ascanio plans to expand into industries like shipping, aviation, construction, and telemedicine to revolutionize training methods.
– George and Minas believe in the transformative power of mixed reality technology in reshaping industries.
EU Commission: two firefighting aircraft to Cyprus
The European Commission will reinforce Cyprus’ firefighting fleet with two aircraft this summer, amid increased risks of forest fires.
EU bolsters Cyprus’ firefighting capacity for warmer-than-average summer
The European Commission will provide Cyprus with two light aircraft to enhance its firefighting capabilities this summer due to the increased wildfire risks in the Southeastern Mediterranean region. The Air Tractor models will be leased by Cyprus, with costs covered by the EU through the RescEU mechanism. The aircraft will be available for deployment to other EU countries if necessary. RescEU activations have increased significantly in recent years, with Cyprus activating the mechanism eight times since 2016. Wildfires have affected 500 million hectares globally in 2023, with Greece, Spain, and Italy being the hardest hit. The focus this year is on strengthening firefighting personnel, with additional firefighters being sent to France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain for the third consecutive summer from various EU countries.
One day we flood, the next day we burn
Two major wildfires have already occurred in Cyprus, one due to mishandling of explosives and the other for unknown reasons. Despite the country’s vulnerability to wildfires due to its dry climate, efforts to acquire aerial firefighting assets have been unsuccessful. Assistance from neighbouring countries, such as Jordan, has been requested during emergencies. The lack of proper firefighting resources has resulted in devastating consequences, with firefighters losing their lives and significant areas of land being burned. The country faces a state of neglect and lack of progress in crucial projects.
Forestry department ready for fire season
– Two helicopters from Jordan are in full operational readiness to assist in firefighting.
– Tenders for six leased aircraft are in the final stages.
– The additional aircraft are expected to be in Cyprus in June.
– The forestry department has eight drones for daily patrols.
– Forces have been on standby since April for what is expected to be a particularly difficult year.
Agios Sylas fire under control, but authorities on alert due to strong winds
Firefighters have managed to control a wildfire that broke out in the Agios Sylas industrial area of Limassol, burning through approximately six square kilometers of land. Strong winds forecasted for the following day could still pose a challenge to their efforts. The threat of rekindling remains high, and firefighting forces are working through the night to secure the area. Additional resources have been mobilized, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
Agios Sylas wildfire ‘out of control,’ Fire Service says [PHOTOS+VIDEO]
![Agios Sylas wildfire ‘out of control,’ Fire Service says [PHOTOS+VIDEO]](https://ch.jfdi.cc/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/agios-sylas-wildfire-out-of-control-fire-service-says-photosvideo.jpg)
A wildfire is burning near factories in the Agios Sylas industrial area in Limassol, prompting evacuations and a large-scale firefighting response. Firefighters are working to protect the industrial zone, with assistance from neighbouring regions, aircraft, and the Civil Defence.