Strong winds swept through the Larnaca and free Famagusta districts on Sunday, causing widespread damage, closing roads, cutting power and leaving municipal crews working through the night.
The Fire Service and municipal teams received dozens of calls for fallen trees and collapsed solar water heaters. In Larnaca city, trees fell on two vehicles. Roads were blocked in Ormideia, Xylofagou, Ayia Napa and Paralimni, and cables belonging to the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) were damaged, causing power cuts in several areas.
Ayia Napa municipality fielded the highest number of calls. Deputy Mayor Antonis Christou told philenews that crews responded to more than 40 incidents in the Ayia Napa municipal district alone. “We responded to over 40 incidents involving fallen trees, blocked roads and public spaces, and swept-away signage,” he said. “There is also some damage to hotel canopies. An assessment has begun and we will have a full picture by the end of the day.”
Beaches at Nissi Beach, Sandy Bay and Pantachou were hit, with sunbeds and umbrellas swept away. Christou said repairs were already under way on Monday morning. “The municipality’s Beach Department has already begun repairs and Nissi Beach and Sandy Bay have started serving visitors again,” he said. “Damage at Pantachou beach is now being assessed and it will be ready to serve visitors tomorrow.”
In Paralimni, Mayor Giorgos Nicolettos said crews had worked through to dawn. “We had many fallen trees which blocked main roads,” he said. “Our service was on the streets until dawn and cleared everything. Solar water heaters and awnings also came down in Paralimni town centre and these will be recorded during the day.”
The Big Potato toppled — but will be repaired
In Xylofagou, trees and solar water heaters came down and a boat sank at the local fishing shelter. The village’s landmark Big Potato statue also collapsed under the force of the winds. Community leader Giorgos Ioulianos said the damage to the statue was not serious. “We moved the potato and took it to a machine shop,” he told philenews. “The manufacturer will come to restore it to its previous condition, but it will be reinstalled on a more secure structure.”
Crops take a serious hit
Early potato crops in Ormideia, Xylofagou and Sotira sustained significant damage. Andreas Karyos, representative of the potato growers, said the worst-affected plants were those at an advanced stage of growth. “There are considerable areas with early potato crops in those areas, but I cannot give a percentage for the damage,” he said. “What I can say is that in the early areas where the potatoes were at an advanced growth stage, the damage has been very serious.” Karyos said contact had been made with the Ministry of Agriculture to begin recording the damage for compensation purposes.
Greenhouses were also hit, with the worst damage reported in Sotira and Paralimni. Marios Pantelis, president of the Sotira agricultural producers association SEDYGEP, said plastic sheeting had been swept from greenhouses and producers had already begun repairs. “Some people have damage of €3,000 to €4,000, which the producers will have to bear themselves as there are no compensation provisions,” he said.
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