Residents of one of central Larnaca’s oldest and largest blocks of flats were due to leave their homes on Monday, after the Larnaca District Local Government Organisation (DLGO) declared the building extremely dangerous and issued an evacuation order.
Residents were notified on Friday and given three days to leave. They will, however, be allowed some leeway, according to information from the Larnaca DLGO.
The DIPA building on Grigori Afxentiou Avenue has 64 flats and 12 businesses, and many dozens of people live there. Signs have been put up barring passers-by from entering.
Residents and business owners told philenews they did not yet know exactly when they would have to leave, and said they had nowhere else to go.
They do not, however, intend to leave the building. They have already appointed a lawyer to handle the case, and the building’s management company is trying to find a civil engineer so that repairs can begin, according to information from the company.
During a visit to the site, philenews saw that the building’s columns appeared worn, and serious questions have been raised about its structural stability. Larnaca Municipality had warned residents many times in the past.
DIPA is the second large block of flats the Larnaca DLGO has declared extremely dangerous. It recently issued an evacuation order for the Filanta complex as well, but the complex’s managers said they intended to take steps to make it safe and were given more time to do so. So far, only the Madona building in the Faneromeni area has been evacuated, in May. Evacuation orders have also been issued for other, smaller buildings.
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