Filenews 11 July 2025
Cyprus today commemorates the 13 victims of the explosion in Mari, which occurred on July 11, 2011 and plunged the country into mourning.
Captain Andreas Ioannidis, Lieutenant Commander Lambros Lambrou, Chief Commander Kleanthis Kleanthous, Lieutenant General Michalis Irakleous, sailors Miltos Christoforou, Christakis Christoforou and Andreas Charalambous, Fire Service Chief Andreas Papadopoulos, Chief Fire Officer Giorgos Giakoumis and Firefighters Vassilis Krokos lost their lives as a result of the explosion of the containers with ammunition at the Naval Base 'Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis'. Spyros Ttantis, Panagiotis Theofilou and Adamos Adamou.
The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, in his memorial speech at the memorial service of Mari's heroes at the "Evangelos Florakis" Naval Base in Mari, said "I bow on behalf of the Cypriot people to the sacrifice of these 13 heroes and I address to their relatives, to all of you, looking you in the eye, the public apology and the apologies of the state".
He then laid a wreath at the Monument of the Heroes at the premises of EMAK, in Kofinou, as well as the Archbishop of Cyprus George and the President of the Parliament.
The Council of Ministers declared 13 people who fell in the line of duty as heroes, while the judiciary imposed penalties on those who were judged to be responsible for the tragedy.
The three deadly explosions, the most powerful of which was around 5.30am, in the containers stored at the naval base, shocked the whole of Cyprus.
The naval base was razed, the power plant was destroyed, with a significant burden on the economy, while the neighbouring communities suffered serious damage.
Speech by the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides:
It is with emotion that we are here today, as we do every year, to honour the memory of the 13 officers, non-commissioned officers and hoplites, who lost their lives in one of the most tragic moments in the modern history of our country, after 1974.
Like today, exactly 14 years ago, the place in which we gathered became a place of sacrifice for 13 of our fellow human beings and since then it remains an unshakable point of reference, which is deeply imprinted in the collective memory of our people.
Thirteen of our fellow human beings lost their lives so unjustly from the deadly explosion that destroyed the country's energy center, which caused enormous economic damage and led our country to an unprecedented state crisis.
Since then, every dawn of July 11th, the duty of responsibility has led us here, to do the obvious: To pay with pride, emotion and awe the due tribute to the heroes – martyrs of that fateful day, who lost their lives trying in every way and means to manage and contain the lightning development of events. The people who tried to save as many as possible, to prevent or at least minimize losses, to preserve lives and property, by obeying the sacred call of duty. In the face of the impending threat, they rose to the occasion and did not abandon their positions.
Captain Andreas Ioannidis, Lieutenant Lambros Lambrou, Chief Commander Kleanthis Kleanthous, EPY Commander Michalis Irakleous, sailors Miltos Christoforou, Christakis Christoforou and Antonis Charalambous, Fire Service Chief Andreas Papadopoulos, Fire Chief Giorgos Giakoumis and firefighters Vassilis Krokos, Spyros Ttantis, Panagiotis Theofilou and Adamos Adamou now go down in history and are an example, symbol and ideal. Their names have been engraved on the columns of our nation's heroes and remain untouched.
The presence of all of us here today indicates in the most official way the highest honour and recognition that the State pays to the sacrifice of the heroes and to those who were injured during that fateful day. As President of the Republic of Cyprus, I bow on behalf of the Cypriot people to the sacrifice of these 13 heroes and I address their relatives, to all of you, looking you in the eye, the public apology and the apologies of the state.
We all know that that fatal accident, this great tragedy, was not lightning in the sky. It was caused by a sequence of events, mistakes and omissions, which predetermined what was to follow.
The day does not lend itself to loud words. But we must repeat the promise not to repeat such mistakes and omissions, to show the utmost responsibility in every decision and choice, not only of national but also of social importance. We have an obligation to take decisions with a sense of responsibility towards even the last citizen of this country. The safeguarding and protection of the integrity, dignity, rights and freedoms of every Cypriot citizen is an inviolable obligation of every state. And for us, this obligation is non-negotiable.
A country that struggles for natural survival cannot afford losses in such a tragic and unjust way. We are accountable to every family that entrusts their children to their homeland, to everyone who serves in the Security Forces, to every citizen of this country, to every young man.
And of course, our country should be grateful to its heroes, pay due tribute to those who sacrificed their lives or were injured in the line of duty, present them as examples to be imitated and highlight their contribution.
Today sends a message of responsibility to all of us. A message of honest and uncompromising performance of duty and mission from any position and any office. Our semi-occupied homeland needs citizens who serve with honesty and responsibility the mission assigned to them, citizens who fight in every way for the well-understood interest of society and the country, people who do not defy risks and challenges and remain firm in their orientation and goal.
The example of the heroes we honour today commands us to do exactly that: to keep our duty and to be worthy of our mission. With this thought and reflection, I want to send the message that for us, the security of those who serve our country and our people is prioritized as the highest priority. The sacrifice of the 13 heroes in Mari controls us and defines the magnitude of the responsibility of our mission.
May their memory be eternal.
