Tragkolas Expresses Doubt Over US Report on Limassol Fire

Former Fire Service Director, Markos Tragkolas, has expressed skepticism regarding the report by American experts (AFT) on the causes of the deadly fire in Limassol, which attributes the fire to cigarette butts.

Speaking on State Radio, Mr. Tragkolas reiterated that something doesn't fully convince him regarding the basis and history of the area, hinting at whether the fire was caused by a reckless act or intentionally.

He questioned the number of cigarette butts found in close proximity to each other, mentioning that one of the two cigarette butts considered to be the cause of the fire was not burned at all, but was "completely white."

Mr. Tragkolas also pointed out that the mountainous Limassol region is plagued by fires and that before the fire in question, a fire had broken out in a nearby location at 9:00 pm.

He emphasized that it is different to throw a cigarette butt recklessly and another to do it maliciously, stressing that the report speaks of recklessness, but intent cannot be ruled out.