The daughter of the couple that was killed in July’s Limassol fire has publicly disputed the official account of her parents’ deaths, demanding accountability from the government and the police.
Maria Erotokritou, whose parents Demetris and Maro Filippidis, died whilst attempting to flee the fire, questioned official statements regarding the circumstances of their deaths. She specifically challenged comments made by Cyprus’s police chief during parliamentary testimony that appeared to assign responsibility to victims, for taking a wrong route that led to their demise.
Erotokritou travelled to Cyprus with her children and family following the tragedy to bury her parents and seek answers about their deaths. Whilst grieving and managing trauma from the loss, she has been investigating the events of that night.
“I will not let this case rest,” Erotokritou told Phileleftheros and in-cyprus. “There were no clear evacuation instructions. From the information I have gathered, some people heard the church bells, others did not. Some left with help from their families, whilst others remained or left late. Complete chaos prevailed.”
Evacuation procedures
Erotokritou presents showing her parents left their village before 8 pm on July 23, with security camera footage capturing their vehicle at 8:06 pm. The location where their bodies were discovered was approximately a minute’s drive from that checkpoint.
“The evacuation was not controlled. Most importantly, according to police information, we have evidence they left the village before 8pm. Also, security cameras recorded their car at 8:06 pm. From there to the point where they were found dead is five minutes’ distance. If official evacuation orders were given at 8 pm, how could my parents have been informed?” she questioned.
According to statements provided to the family, the couple made telephone calls to a neighbour in Limassol and Erotokritou’s two sisters between 7:52pm and 8:05pm on July 23. In all calls, they simply stated: “We have left.” No mention was made of receiving alternative route instructions, contrary to claims made by some officials.
The times do not align with what we have read in publications and reports. My parents’ movements do not match,” Erotokritou said. “I have read all announcements and carefully studied all official reports from every government authority. There was no official escape route for Silikou village. The road they took was the road they always took.”
Erotokritou says her mother would have mentioned, during the phone call they had, if such information existed.
Family seeks transparency in ongoing police investigation
Erotokritou expressed particular frustration with the village community leader’s behaviour, stating he attended her parents’ funeral but did not approach the family for condolences. “Although we tried to communicate with him during the first days, he has avoided any contact or discussion with us,” she said.
The Fillipides couple, described as responsible, would not have endangered their lives unnecessarily. “My father was an intelligent man with a sharp mind and would never put their lives in danger,” Erotokritou said. “My father would not have taken another route if he had been told to follow a different one. They were not irresponsible.”
She criticised the police chief’s parliamentary testimony: “It was wrong for the police chief to say publicly in parliament that my parents were to blame without presenting the full framework of the investigation and conditions. People believe it now. The other day I heard people inside a cafe saying ‘the elderly are to blame.'”
Erotokritou argues authorities are basing conclusions on single testimony rather than considering all facts, evidence and balance of probabilities. “My parents are not here to defend themselves,” she added.
The daughter initially provided all gathered information to police and understands the investigation continues, but has not received updates on the case. She relies on media reports and parliamentary briefings for information about results, which cause significant distress to the family.
“The road had not been closed in time, that is what happened. Authorities are basing themselves on one testimony, instead of taking into account all the facts, evidence and balance of probabilities,” she said.
Systemic failures
President Christodoulides has acknowledged “mistakes, shortcomings and omissions” in wildfire response procedures. “These omissions cost my parents’ lives. They were not small mistakes. They were big ones. It may have been only two lives, but for us, they were our people,” Erotokritou said.
The family had planned to relocate permanently to Cyprus the following year and had begun procedures. “We come to Cyprus regularly. We had said that next year we would move permanently to Cyprus and had started the process. My parents really wanted us to be here. They kept saying, ‘We have 5-10 years to live, come spend them with us.’ And now… Now I go to their house and feel a weight. I go to the cemetery, but for me it is empty. My parents are where they burned…”
Erotokritou says her family is feeling traumatised and now unsettled. “The tragedy of my parents must be addressed with complete transparency. I call on police to continue with an impartial thorough examination of the case,” she concluded.
