fire

Eight aircraft to combat fires

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Eight aircraft to combat fires

The Forestry Department plans to combat fires this year with eight aircraft and over 800 forest firefighters, anticipating challenges due to climate change. A tender for leasing two firefighting aircraft, with an option for two more, has been issued with a €19.3 million budget, valid until 2027. These aircraft can carry up to 3,000 liters of water and 60 liters of foam, with the additional two carrying up to 2,500 liters of water and the same amount of foam. Currently, two of the department’s aircraft are not operational due to maintenance and repairs, but there are two leased helicopters and additional helicopters from the National Guard, Police, and potentially from Jordan and the British Bases for emergencies. The deputy director of the Forestry Department, Savvas Iezekiel, mentioned the impact of climate change and wars on the availability of firefighting aircraft and stated plans to purchase aircraft through the Recovery and Resilience Plan and national funds to reduce reliance on leased aircraft.

Gunmen kill 40 in attack at concert near Moscow, Islamic State claims responsibility

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Gunmen kill 40 in attack at concert near Moscow, Islamic State claims responsibility

At least 40 people were killed and 145 wounded when gunmen attacked concertgoers near Moscow. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident occurred at the Crocus City Hall before a performance by the Soviet-era rock group “Picnic.” Verified videos showed the chaos and the attempts of people to escape the gunfire. Russia’s Federal Security Service reported the casualties, and the attack has been described as one of the deadliest on Russian soil in decades. Children were among the dead and injured. The venue experienced significant damage, including a collapsing roof and a fire. The United States, European and Arab powers, and many former Soviet republics condemned the attack. Two weeks prior to the attack, the U.S. embassy in Russia had warned of an imminent extremist attack in Moscow. Following the incident, Russia increased security measures across the country.

Gunmen kill at least 40 in attack at concert hall near Moscow

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Gunmen kill at least 40 in attack at concert hall near Moscow

At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured in an attack by five gunmen at a concert in Crocus City Hall near Moscow. The gunmen, dressed in camouflage and armed with automatic weapons, opened fire on the crowd. There was also a report of a second blast at the venue. The attack occurred during a concert by the band “Picnic.” The incident took place shortly after President Vladimir Putin was re-elected and amidst Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed the casualties and stated that all necessary measures were being taken. The identity of the gunmen was not immediately clear. In response to the attack, security was tightened across Moscow. Russia’s foreign ministry described the incident as a “bloody terrorist attack” and emphasized the need for global condemnation. The U.S. embassy in Russia had previously warned of an imminent extremist attack in Moscow.

Government to intensify penalties, enhance firefighting measures

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Government to intensify penalties, enhance firefighting measures

On the International Day of Forests, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou announced the government’s plans to submit amendments by the end of March to increase penalties for individuals causing fires. She spoke at Athalassa Park, stating that district administrations would conduct wild brush clearance by the end of May to prevent wildfires. Panayiotou emphasized the government’s focus on enhancing the forestry department’s operational readiness, infrastructure, technology, and human resources. She highlighted the introduction of technology, including drones and electromagnetic methods, for fire detection and forest surveillance, as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The plan has also facilitated the acquisition of firefighting vehicles and equipment through national funds. Additionally, a coordination meeting at the Presidential Palace led to decisions on further measures for fire prevention and response, including a proposal for integrating the airborne firefighting unit into the National Guard and the reopening of the forestry college in 2025. Additional sensors for early wildfire detection are also to be installed.

Russia launches missile attack on Kyiv, 10 injured

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Russia launches missile attack on Kyiv, 10 injured

Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities. Air defenses downed all the missiles. The attack involved ballistic and cruise missiles and marked the first large attack on the city in recent weeks after a 44-day pause. An 11-year-old girl was among those injured. Ukraine’s air defenses shot down all 31 Russian missiles aimed at the capital. The missiles were launched from strategic bombers and Russian territory, targeting Kyiv from different directions. Air alerts in Kyiv lasted for nearly three hours. Missile debris damaged several residential buildings, industrial sites, and a kindergarten. Residents of a multi-storey building in the Shevchenkivskyi district were evacuated due to a fire, and the attack also resulted in shattered windows and set private cars ablaze.

Fire Service on alert for yellow weather warning

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Fire Service on alert for yellow weather warning

The Fire Service has increased its readiness due to a yellow weather warning for isolated thunderstorms issued by the Department of Meteorology. The warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and predicts potential localized rainfall exceeding 35 millimetres per hour, with a possibility of hail. The Fire Service, with spokesperson Andreas Kettis stating their preparedness, has equipped vehicles and an on-call team ready for emergencies. Although no weather-related calls have been received yet, the public is advised to be cautious and follow guidelines from authorities. This response follows a recent severe storm that resulted in significant property damage.

Audit report reveals compliance gaps in Ministry of Justice

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Audit report reveals compliance gaps in Ministry of Justice

The Audit Service report on the Ministry of Justice highlights several issues, including non-compliance with laws and regulations, deficiencies in expense control, and incomplete adherence to General Accounting Office circulars. It covers the administration of the ministry, prisons, and the fire service, with a special report on the police published in 2023. The report recommends establishing a reliable internal control system for compliance and monitoring. It notes that some NGOs have not submitted required documentation for funded programs, suggesting legal action to recover funds and possibly withholding future grants. The Ministry of Finance reported an outstanding return of €3,700 from programs/actions in 2017 and 2021, with a Grants Scheme amendment under consideration. Additionally, it highlights the issue of supervisors for released prisoners being overburdened, suggesting a cap on the number of prisoners per supervisor. The report also points out discrepancies in prisoner account balances and unregistered transactions in violation of General Accounting Office provisions. Lastly, it recommends withholding increments for temporary guards who have not passed required exams.

Audit office raises illegalities at justice ministry

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Audit office raises illegalities at justice ministry

The Audit Office reported that the justice ministry needs to develop a reliable internal audit system for receipts and payments, highlighting weaknesses in compliance with relevant laws and regulations regarding spending for the fiscal year 2022. It found irregularities in the disbursement of down payments for programmes related to the National Mechanism for Women’s Rights, with payments made without supporting documentation for actual expenditures. The Audit Office recommends legal action against recipients of these funds and deducting the amount given from the next state grant if beneficiaries also receive an annual state grant. It noted issues with invoices under the National Mechanism for Women’s Rights lacking supplier details and receipt dates. The report also mentioned that parole supervisors are overburdened, affecting their performance, and recommended setting a maximum number of parolees per supervisor. Additionally, it flagged the use of a building by the justice ministry without a final certificate of approval, a discrepancy in inmate account balances at prisons, and overpayments to two retired prison guards. The fire service was noted for not having dedicated functionaries to check invoices before payments, and a separate report was published for the police force in November 2023.

Man falls 80m, rescued by helicopter (video)

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Man falls 80m, rescued by helicopter (video)

A national guardsman fell down an 80-metre cliff near the Lefka crossing point and was rescued by an Emak helicopter crew. He sustained relatively minor injuries, including a broken arm. The rescue operation involved firefighters from the Evryhou and Lakatamia stations, and the area was inaccessible on foot, necessitating the helicopter rescue. The man’s health is still being monitored.

Unprecedented heavy hail hit Nicosia on Monday

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Unprecedented heavy hail hit Nicosia on Monday

Fire crews worked into the early hours of Tuesday after heavy rains and hail struck the island, mainly affecting the municipalities of Tseri, Latsia, Lakatamia, and Strovolos. One basement in Strovolos was covered in a thick layer of hail, requiring an excavator for removal. The heavy hail and rainfall, lasting about 20 to 30 minutes, resulted in a large number of incidents. The services received 78 calls on Monday night, with 20 crews working until 2 am to respond to incidents of flooding and opening of drain pipes. These crews included 13 from the fire service, two from Support Cy, two from the civil defense, two from Etea, and a team from Pavlos. Members of the Nicosia district staff were recalled from leave to assist. Police were notified of issues caused by a large amount of water on Limassol Avenue, including several stuck vehicles and damage.