in-cyprus 9 July 2024 - by Ioanna Mantipia
Migrants who had been occupying the derelict Aquarius hotel in Limassol vacated the premises recently in an apparent attempt to avoid police detection.
The issue came to light a week ago after reports by Phileleftheros prompted daily inspections by Limassol police searching for the occupants.
A follow-up visit by reporters found the makeshift rooms inside the abandoned hotel empty, with clothes and belongings left behind. Wooden boards previously used to cover windows were knocked down, suggesting a hasty departure.
The whereabouts of the former occupants remain unknown, and their return is a possibility if the unsecured hotel remains accessible, Phileleftheros writes.
The incident has raised concerns about hygiene and the responsibility of the property owners to clean the area before demolition is authorised.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commander of Operations of the Alien and Immigration Service, Petros Zenios, reported a rise in arrests of undocumented migrants across Cyprus.
Zenios said that within the past week, authorities arrested 60 people on suspicion of residing illegally in the Republic, island-wide.
He noted that deportation proceedings commence immediately after arrests. Zenios added that over 5,600 individuals have been repatriated through forced or voluntary means so far this year.
The Alien and Immigration Matters unit maintains its ongoing and daily coordinated operations, Zenios concluded.
