Filenews 9 February 2026 - by Theodora Nikolaou
The occupancy of the dams remains at extremely low levels, according to the official data of February 9, 2026, intensifying the concern about the country's water sufficiency. The total amount of water stored amounts to 39.925 million cubic meters, out of a total capacity of 290.804 million cum, with the average occupancy being only 13.7%, compared to 26% in the corresponding period last year.
The situation at the Kouris dam, the largest in Cyprus, is particularly worrying. With a total capacity of 115 million. cubic meters, today's occupancy amounts to 14.001 million cubic meters, a percentage of 12.17%. In the last three days, an inflow of only 0.255 million cubic meters was recorded, while the total inflow from October 1, 2025 is limited to 3.275 mil. In the same period last year, Kouris was at 21.67%, with 24.917 million cum, while the maximum occupancy in 2025 had reached 25.538 million.
A similar picture is recorded in the other large dams. Asprokremmos, with a capacity of 52.375 million cum, currently has 6.527 million. 12.46%, compared to 27.85% in the corresponding period last year. The total inflow since the beginning of the hydrological year amounts to 3.321 million. The dam of Evretos is located at 17.88%, with a stored quantity of 4.292 million, while last year in the same period it was at 25.13%. At the Kannavio dam, the occupancy rate is 16.23%, with 2.787 million compared to 28.66% last year.
As he explained, "in times of drought we have also seen lower levels", recalling that in October the occupancy of Kouris had fallen to 9%. He added that "the general total is at 13.7%, while last year it was at 26% and again we said that it was low", stressing that "unfortunately we neither have last year's level nor will we reach it this year - it is unlikely".
As he said, "it happens once in a hundred years. We are not going to take quantities from now and it will go so that we can surpass last year's." According to him, "we are already in mid-February and over time from March onwards no water enters the dams".
Unfortunately, this year the previous months did not go well either. Measurements show that November was the worst in the last decade, with only 0.200 million of inflow, while December recorded the lowest performance in the last eight years, with 1.903 million.
At the same time, the images from Kouris vividly capture the magnitude of the problem, with a typical example being the church of Agios Nikolaos, which was once submerged in the waters of the dam and today is fully revealed.
