UAE condoles with Cyprus over forest fire victims

The UAE expressed its condolences and solidarity with the Republic of Cyprus over the victims of the forest fires that broke out near the coastal city of Limassol, claiming two lives, as reported by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The official Emirati agency quoted a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday evening expressing the country's solidarity with the Cypriot government and friendly Cypriot people in this painful incident, offering sincere condolences to the victims' families, and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

The UAE also appreciated the efforts made by the authorities to contain the fires on the Mediterranean island, which has been suffering from drought for years, and witnessed a heatwave this week with temperatures reaching 44 degrees Celsius, fueled by strong winds.

The fire, the worst in Cyprus's history, spread over nearly 125 square kilometers of mountainous areas, according to the Cyprus University of Technology.

A elderly couple lost their lives in their car while trying to escape the fire near Limassol, the second-largest city in Cyprus.