Cyprus Mail 14 January 2023 - by Gina Agapiou
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| Photo: Nikolas Petrou |
Interior Minister Nicos Nouris will pay an emergency visit to the Famagusta district on Saturday after heavy rain flooded houses and businesses in the area.
Since 4.40am, authorities have been receiving calls for assistance due to the adverse weather conditions across the district, including Paralimni, Protaras and Ayia Napa.
Police have urged drivers to be extremely careful as roads have been flooded with some being closed.
Water has accumulated on Kapparis-Protaras avenue and Ayia Napa-Ayia Thekla as well as Protaras-Cape Greco roads, Famagusta police spokesman Steve Theodoulou told CNA.
Police, in cooperation with the Paralimni municipality have closed roads from the roundabaout where Zorbas bakery is located until the traffic lights of Prophitis Elias and from the roundabout of Ayios Panteliomonas to the traffic lights of Kammitsis.
So far, intense rainfall flooded hotels and houses in Ayia Napa, while more houses and stores in Paralimni and Protaras also flooded as water gushed down main streets.
The fire service received over 200 calls for help, with seven crews working in the Famagusta district. The crews were reinforced with two from Larnaca, the service said.
Three crews of the civil defence also arrived in the area later in the morning while crews from municipalities of Paralimni and Ayia Napa as well as three excavators were operating. Two vehicles from support cy volunteer team are also contributing in the efforts of the fire service.
According to CNA, 22 vehicles have been towed and 12 people rescued before 1pm.
In Ayia Napa the biggest problem was located on Kryo Nero avenue near the Thalassa museum.
Police said the roads that remain closed in the district are Protaras-Cape Greco avenue from Kapparis until the Pernera area and Ayios Panteleimonas road until Kammitsi traffic lights.
There are also some roads that have been deemed dangerous in the district. These are Kappari, 1 Apriliou and Griva Digeni avenues, as well as Ayia Napa-Ayia Thekla road and Cape Greco-Ayia Napa.
Drivers should be particularly careful as roads are slippery and dangerous. All vehicles should drive at low speed, maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead and keep their emergency lights on.
Police also urged people to limit unnecessary travel in Paralimni.
