Pafos LIve 4 November 2024
The immediate need for decisions by both the central state and the local authorities for extensive works on the rainwater network, was underlined today in statements by the Mayor of Pafos, Phedon Phedonos, as Pafos tries to recover from the effects of the extreme weather phenomena that occurred on Saturday afternoon.
As Mr. Phedonos told journalists, there are 20 points in the city that face problems in such conditions, on the one hand due to parcels of tens of acres that have not been separated in order to carry out road and rainwater network works, but also due to the narrowing of the streambeds that cross the city, due to building permits given 40-50 years ago.
Regarding the plots on which no works have been done, the Mayor said that the majority of them are Turkish Cypriot property. Indicatively, he mentioned that in one of the 20 problematic points, there is a piece of church next to it and, according to Mr. Phedonos, the Municipality was forbidden to enter to do the necessary works for rainwater. He noted that as a result a huge lake formed there yesterday, causing problems for private property, he said.
"The state and the municipality must decide to make road networks in these areas and consequently to make rainwater networks," he said, adding that in four or five of these 20 points, if small changes are made, last night's phenomenon may not be observed. "In the remaining areas, important works need to be done, even houses must be demolished, because 40-50 years ago the competent authorities gave permits and included the beds of argakia in residential zones," he said.
On this issue, Mr. Phedonos continued, "both the Municipality of Pafos and the EDA and the state must now be relentless, not everyone can build where they want". He explained that, after the plots have been built, the waters are looking for a way out on the streets. "Because the streams narrowed, if yesterday the rain was three hours, some houses would be flooded or even demolished by the rush of the river," he said. He expressed the view that consideration should also be given to the possibility of some houses being expropriated and demolished.
"As the situation is today, the city cannot manage extreme weather events," the Mayor noted, explaining that rainwater networks are designed to absorb 30-50 mm of rain per hour, but when rainfall reaches 100-200 mm like yesterday, along with hail, which threw branches and green leaves of trees, clogging wells. Disasters cannot be avoided.
Mr. Phedonos expressed the view that only because of the relatively short duration of the phenomena there were no more serious disasters, costing tens of millions of euros to rehabilitate, or even injured and casualties. "We were lucky because the damage was small and material and 95% will be restored within the next 48 hours," he said, noting that the city's proper functioning had already been restored.
There are defects in the Paphos General Hospital, the Mayor said
Asked about the problems that occurred in a wing of Pafos General Hospital, Mr. Phedonos said that he has been appealing for its condition for about five years, characteristically mentioning that the building is "wrecked" and that the roofs were dripping in previous years, after rainfall.
"Many buildings are 35 years old and don't have such problems," he said, noting that this hospital was built with a lot of poor workmanship and that no one ever seriously dealt with it to plan a serious renovation, identify the problems and restore them. He added that if it stays that way, it won't become a university hospital.
Mr. Phedonos also spoke of timeless expediencies, noting that "especially now with the GHS, it is convenient for some state hospitals not to function properly, in order for others to benefit." Finally, he said that "in general there is a terrible inefficiency in the state and in the respective governments on these issues", expressing the opinion that if yesterday the rain continued, all floors would be flooded and the hospital would become a lake.
