A total of 226 dilapidated or dangerous buildings have been identified across the Paphos district, with the most serious problem concentrated in Paphos Municipality, the president of the Paphos District Local Government Organisation (DLGO) told Phileleftheros. Charalambos Pittokopitis was speaking about the months-long review and the measures being taken to address the problem, which came to light following the tragedy in Limassol.
Pittokopitis said Paphos Municipality had declared 70 apartment buildings dangerous, with 10 or 11 of them in more serious condition. the DLGO has already taken action on the three buildings with the most urgent safety issues.
Notices have been put up warning owners and tenants that these buildings are dangerous and should not be used. Before the deadline given to owners expired, Pittokopitis said, the owners and managers of two of the buildings informed the DLGO that they were already carrying out work to fix the problems identified, so that the danger status of the buildings could be lifted.
The DLGO’s Licensing Department is now studying the evidence submitted by owners and managers. Once that review is complete, the DLGO will hold a meeting with its legal advisers to decide what happens next, Pittokopitis said.
He added that the DLGO is in contact with Civil Defence, warning it that some apartment buildings may need to be evacuated, so that Civil Defence can also be ready, as far as its resources allow, to help find solutions so that people do not end up on the street.
The DLGO is generally on heightened alert at the moment over issues arising from dangerous buildings, following the Limassol tragedy, Pittokopitis stressed. “We are proceeding in cooperation with the Organisation’s Licensing Department and our legal advisers to apply the legislation, using the tools it gives us, in order to avoid any unpleasant event,” he concluded.
