780 DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN LIMASSOL WITH 80 AT RISK OF COLLAPSE - DEADLINE UNTIL MONDAY FOR TENANTS TO EVACUATE ANOTHER APARTMENT BUILDING IN GERMASOGEIA - Filenews 17/4 by Ioanna Mantziipa
The deaths of the two people from the collapse of the apartment building on Aeschylus Street in Germasogeia were the last straw and highlighted the serious problem with the dangerous buildings that plague the province of Limassol. For years, the competent bodies and local authorities were called upon to deal with the issue of the retreat of balconies in Limassol, but without being able to find an effective solution.
The issue with the collapse of balconies had also been highlighted in previous reports of "F", with characteristic titles, such as "they had a Saint". In particular, in a report on January 21, 2025, we wrote that the fact that we had no victims is considered a "God's wish", but the possibility of such a thing happening was not far away at all.
The collapse of the apartment building in Germasogeia, which occurred on Holy Saturday, has once again opened the "bag of Aeolus" regarding dangerous constructions. This is a serious issue that has been known for years. The fact that this apartment building had been deemed dangerous and its owners had been informed, but remained indifferent to the situation, constitutes criminal negligence. At the same time, the owners collected thousands of euros either from rentals to foreigners or through platforms.
Similar problems are observed in other apartment buildings in Limassol. Indicative is the case of a complex of four apartment buildings in the coastal area of Germasogeia, which had caused a headache for the municipality, which, despite repeated letters, has not managed to put an end to the problem. The situation remains the same to this day.
In particular, one of the apartment buildings has been deemed unsuitable and dangerous (the photo is indicative), however, the tenants continue to live in it, ignoring the risks. In fact, 10 people live in the apartments in miserable conditions. For this case, the Limassol District Self-Government Organization sent a letter yesterday (16/4) to the owners of this dangerous apartment building, giving them until Monday to evacuate the building. Otherwise, the authorities will proceed to seal it and take other actions.
According to information from "F", the EOA Limassol is preparing a list of dangerous buildings in the province, which, according to initial estimates, seems to reach 780. Of these, half are located in the urban area of Limassol, while the remaining half are in the province. About 80 buildings and apartment buildings are considered extremely dangerous and pose an imminent risk of collapse.
The issue of dangerous buildings in the Municipality of Germasogeia had been of concern to "F" in the past. In particular, we had highlighted the case of an apartment building on Agiou Hilarion Street in Germasogeia, where one side of the building is "in the air", as the necessary retaining wall has not been built, leaving residents exposed to serious danger. Despite many promises and remarks, to date no action has been taken to rectify the problem. In fact, on this issue there is a problem with the owners of the properties under the apartment building, as one of them refuses to allow entry into his property for the necessary works.
The tragedy of Germasogeia came to demonstrate the failure of the authorities to implement the legislation and to put the first responsibilities, the owners who were indifferent to the lives of the tenants. If immediate measures are not taken and the safety of citizens does not become the first priority, the next tragedy will not be long in coming. Amid the misfortune of the collapse, the only fortunate thing is that it happened at noon. If it had happened in the evening, the toll would certainly have been much higher.
The second victim booked the fatal apartment through Booking
Through DNA and fingerprint tests, the second victim of the double tragedy in Germasogeia, which occurred on Holy Saturday in Limassol, is expected to be identified. Samples have been taken from the body of the second victim for scientific examinations, while at the moment there is no official evidence to confirm his identity.
According to information from "F", from the data collected by the authorities so far, it appears that the second victim, who reportedly comes from an Eastern European country, had booked the apartment for accommodation through the Booking platform a few days before the tragedy.
The investigations continue by the investigators of the Limassol Police Department and according to the latest information of our newspaper, the apartment belongs to a specific owner, but its management has been assigned to a company that rents it to third parties. So far, no statement has been received from the person in charge of the company, which is expected to be made in the coming days.
In another development, tomorrow Saturday, exactly one week after the tragedy, friends and compatriots of the 27-year-old Nigerian will gather outside the apartment building to pay tribute to the two victims. The rally will take place at 7 p.m. and attendees will leave candles and flowers in memory of the victims.
