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Arson behind most forest fires in Cyprus, an increased action year after year

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The majority of forest fires in Cyprus are because of arson and this criminal action increases year after year, according to statistical figures issued on Monday by the Forestry Department.

In fact, data shows that – year after year – there is an increase in the number of deliberate fires while a corresponding decrease is recorded in those caused by negligence.

Specifically, nine out of ten forest fires are caused by human action. For the first seven months of 2022 deliberate fires made up 69% of total ones, in 2021 these were 59%, for the period of 2012 – 2021 this was 48% and for the period 2000 – 2021 it was 34%. As for 2022, the cause of 58% of forest fires is known and 42% is unknown.

Of these, 87% of fires are caused by human factors and 13% by lightning. Fires sparked by negligence were recorded in military, short-circuiting of electric cables and hunting activities.

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