Police freed six tourists who were cut off by fast-flowing water in Avakas Gorge on Wednesday, as bad weather caused short power cuts in several parts of Paphos district and forced a flight from Glasgow to Paphos to land in Larnaca.
The tourists could not get back to Paphos, and officers from Peyia police station had to step in to free them.
Power cuts
The bad weather began affecting the country early in the afternoon. From about 2.30pm, it caused one major fault and several smaller local ones, possibly due to lightning strikes or branches brought down on to cables by strong winds, Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) spokeswoman Christina Papadopoulou said.
Power went off at Pano Arodes at 3.03pm, at Ineia and Kathikas at 3.06pm, in part of Peyia at 3.19pm and at Akoursos at 4.24pm. The major fault, in Peyia, has since been repaired.
Papadopoulou added that EAC crews had been mobilised from the start and were working to restore supply as quickly as possible, but that delays were down to the distances they had to travel from one site to another.
Flight diverted
The Glasgow flight was diverted amid stormy conditions, according to information from the company that runs the island’s airports. The situation for air traffic appeared to be developing, and further diversions could not be ruled out.
Fire service and roads
The Fire Service said it had responded to a number of calls in Peyia, Polemi and Polis Chrysochous to clear stormwater drains, pump water out of flooded basements in homes and deal with a fallen tree. All district fire commands are on heightened alert with crews in place, it said, and staff will be recalled where needed.
District Local Government Organisation (DLGO) crews are also clearing stormwater drains on flooded roads.
Police said the road between Peyia and Lara had been made impassable by an overflowing river. They urged drivers to avoid the route and to take particular care, as heavy rain could create dangerous conditions on the roads.
(Information from Cyprus News Agency)
