In the vicinity of Limassol, a “car cemetery” has been discovered in the forest — risk of new fires

Less than a month after a major fire in the mountainous part of Limassol, a journalistic investigation by Politis reports a concentration of dozens of abandoned cars and bulky waste in a forest near the Dimes community (Limassol district). According to the report, the dump is located approximately 500 meters from residential houses and borders a narrow rural road.

At the site, cars covered with pine needles, old household appliances, and other waste are visible — conditions that increase the likelihood of fire outbreaks and complicate access for firefighting equipment. The problem has been known since 2022: activists and locals have posted photos, but no effective measures have been taken so far. The head of the community reported that the land plots are privately owned, which complicates municipal intervention, while promising to seek solutions within the framework of current legislation.

According to the publication, the Ministry of Interior allocated 1 million euros for the restoration of plots in 16 community groups, yet the number of illegal dumps remains high — in the Paphos district alone, 540 such sites have been registered. Experts and environmentalists call such dumps “powder kegs” capable of triggering new destructive fires.

What this means for residents: the risk of fires near populated areas has increased, and firefighter access may be difficult. It is recommended not to light fires in nature, and to promptly notify local authorities and the Fire Service if dumps are discovered.