Filenews 24 November 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Conclusion of a fire by a foreign expert who proceeded with a specialized inspection after the incidents with fires on buses in Paphos.
According to reliable information from "F", his final conclusion records poor maintenance of the engine as the cause of the fires, something that was also observed in the other 14 vehicles he examined.
The Greek expert recommended that the 14 buses, which he examined in Paphos, Larnaca and Free Famagusta, be serviced immediately according to the manufacturer's instructions and specifications.
After the report, the TOM proceeded to immediately call the remaining 50 buses of the same brand and type for technical inspection at the State Technical Inspection Center. At the same time, supervisors carry out roadside inspections, strengthening public confidence in public transport.
On the Minister's instructions, the TOM will assign foreign experts the preventive control of all the approximately 1,400 buses that perform services for the state.
The aim is to ensure that maintenance is at the level stipulated by the contracts, enhancing the reliability of the transportation system.
Preventive action of TOM and EHR
The fire that recently broke out on a bus in Paphos, the second in about a month, brings back the issue that arose two years ago with the fire on a bus in Nicosia.
The measures taken then were considered effective since for about two years there was no serious incident of fire in buses, but the new incidents worried the Department of Road Transport (TOM) which, on the instructions of the Minister of Transport, called an expert from Greece to check the vehicles and determine the reasons that caused the fires.
All three of these vehicles were of the same make and model but of a different type. Part of the solution in 2023 was probably the withdrawal of that type, for which there were suspicions that its mechanical layout may have been the source of the problem.
The withdrawal of these vehicles in 2023 logically ruled out a correlation with the incidents of 2025. However, this contributed to the concern of the TOM, which urgently rushed to summon, after the second incident of 2025, the Greek expert to determine whether the last two fire incidents had common characteristics.
There are 64 buses of the same type and model in Cyprus. According to instructions given by the TOM after the second fire incident, the expert, accompanied by TOM officials, sampled eight other buses in Paphos and three each in Larnaca and Free Famagusta.
The final conclusion records poor maintenance of the engine as the cause of the fires, something that was observed in the other 14 vehicles it examined, and recommended that all vehicles be maintained as specified by the manufacturer.
This recommendation was adopted by the TOM, which then gave instructions for the remaining 50 buses of the three companies to be checked.
In addition to tourist buses, there is currently a fleet of about 1400 buses that perform services for the State. On the instructions of the Minister, the TOM will assign a foreign expert to inspect all buses as a precaution and to submit a report on the condition of each vehicle.
The purpose of the audit is to ensure that maintenance is at least at the level provided for in the contract.
The TOM will also check all the IKTEO that examined the buses and did not find the obvious problem, while the Department of Electromechanical Services (EHR) has already started checking the activities of licensed engineers and the tyre change register of licensed workshops to determine whether the legislation is being implemented.
These actions of the TFF aim to prevent incidents that may endanger the public, to implement the provisions of the legislation and to ensure the safety of the public.
