Emotions run high this morning during a funeral service for Demetris and Maro Philippidi, 81 and 77, who were tragically burnt in their cars as they tried to escape the flames ravaging mountainous Limassol on Wednesday, July 23rd.
Government ministers heard from the victims niece on how they did nothing to prepare for the fire season, as she cried out ‘state murder’.
Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas represented President Christodoulides at the funeral held at the Panayia Evangelistria church of Kato Polemidia. Also attending were Education and Health Ministers, as well as the social welfare and shipping deputy ministers, as well as local authority officials.
Hundreds of residents from affected areas attended, including the community of Sylikou, where the victims lived.
Their niece Anna Avraam, who spoke on behalf of the family said that the couple was suddenly and unjustly taken from them, as they tried to escape their flames.
‘You found the path of paradise in this painful manner, you didn’t deserve it’, she continued, adding that in spite of their battle with cancer, her uncle and aunt never gave up the fight and were always smiling and full of life. ‘But you were murdered in the worst way possible’.
She referred to numerous government mistakes, including the fact that they were assuring people last month of readiness for any fire. She then turned and posed a critical question to attending ministers directly:-
‘Where were you, ready ones? You didn’t care about buying aerial support or fire engines that would protect us’.
Sadly, the victims’ niece added, this state and this society was never and will never be better and no matter how much of the blame authorities do take, ‘they cannot bring you back, but you will always remain in our hearts as we repeat the question-Why?’.
