Four laborers died trying to escape Cyprus blaze

The bodies of four farm workers were discovered Sunday, the second day of a massive wildfire in Cyprus that so far burned 55 square kilometers, with reports saying the laborer's perished while desperately trying to escape the inferno.

Local media said civil defense officers discovered on Sunday morning the charred remains of four individuals, believed to be Egyptian laborer's who had gone missing Saturday afternoon as a wildfire was spreading through rural communities in Limassol and Larnaca districts.

Reports said the four men, who were picking tomatoes for a living, got into a small truck in an attempt to drive away and escape the fire outside Odou village in Larnaca district.

Reports said the four men, who were picking tomatoes for a living, got into a small truck in an attempt to drive away and escape the fire outside Odou village in Larnaca district.

Additional reports said their car overturned on a slope and the four men perished some 400 meters away as they were desperately trying to climb up to the top of a hill.

Nouris described the blaze as the

“most destructive fire” in the history of the Cypriot Republic, “in both material damage but also unfortunately in terms of human lives.”

The suspect has reportedly denied starting any fire and further claimed he was the one who notified authorities. Police are seeking phone records in order to verify his story.

Fire Department spokesperson Andreas Kettis said there were no active fires on Sunday but announced fire fighters on land and pilots in the air have been called to respond to numerous small outbreaks

Dozens of people were evacuated from the area and put up in hotels on Saturday, as hundreds of firefighters. About a dozen aircraft were battling the blaze, according to state media.