Cyprus issues fire warning to 17,000 hunters

Authorities in Cyprus have issued a major warning to approximately 17,000 hunters expected to participate in the upcoming Sunday hunt due to high wildfire risks. The Department of Forests and the Cyprus Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Federation are urging participants to prioritize safety over hunting success.

The Department of Forests will be on high alert, deploying additional personnel, forest stations, fire watchtowers, and firefighting vehicles to ensure rapid response. Officials have instructed hunters not to light fires in the countryside and to use only the 40 designated organized excursion areas if they need to prepare food. Additionally, hunters are reminded to properly extinguish cigarettes and collect empty cartridges in accordance with wildlife protection laws.

Due to high temperatures, officials warned that even a single person failing to follow instructions could cause a catastrophic and fast-spreading fire. The Department of Forests is also considering a proposal to move the hunting season to September in future periods to take advantage of milder temperatures and reduced fire risks.