Paphos wildfire called a ‘crime’ as ancient olive grove destroyed

Tuesday’s wildfire between the villages of Galataria and Pentalia in Paphos has been described as a “crime” by Cyprus’ top forestry official, who said centuries-old heritage had gone up in flames.

Forestry Department director, Savvas Iezekiel, told the Cyprus News Agency that the fire destroyed an ancient olive grove.

He said local residents had worked and harvested the grove for hundreds of years, and expressed sorrow over the loss of hundreds of old olive trees considered the pride of the villages.