The findings of on-site inspections in apartment buildings in which dozens of tenants live in Larnaca alerted the Larnaca Provincial Self-Government Organization (EOAL), after buildings in danger of collapse were identified. Specifically, according to information from filenews from EOAL, an apartment building in the area of Faneromeni and one in the area of Chrysopolitissa were found to be very dangerous and the Organization will proceed, probably on Wednesday, with eviction orders, giving three days to the tenants to leave the buildings. These are apartment buildings in which dozens of people live and they are currently being recorded in order to clarify the number of those who will be affected.
The most worrying thing is that another 14 buildings in Larnaca, with several hundred tenants, were considered dangerous at first sight and EOAL will proceed in the coming days with additional checks, to determine if the same procedure should be followed.
As the president of EOAL told us, the creation of a digital archive for the dilapidated buildings is currently being completed. "There are more than 900 potentially dilapidated buildings throughout the province, while they were initially transferred by the competent authorities to EOAL 563. Today, looking at the files we received, we found that there are many more. The first check was carried out and their classification based on risk. We have already assigned several cases to private individuals to make the first exhibition. The first results examined by external researchers, but also by a group of officials, show us that we have at least two cases where we have to proceed with evacuation orders. Probably on Wednesday letters will be sent to the tenants that they must evacuate them within three days. There are another 14 buildings, which in order to be 100% sure will be carried out other inspections, which will be completed in a few days."
A meeting will be held tomorrow during which the mayor of Larnaca will also be informed, while the data on the tenants in the two apartment buildings will also be ready. "We will make letters to the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Minister of the Interior to inform about the situation and ask if they can, based on their capabilities, make some arrangements for the tenants. " A problem will be created, however, the safety of human life is above all", noted Mr. Hadjicharalambous, adding that in the coming days another 4 apartment buildings in Larnaca that are part of the Ktizo Plan will be evacuated. "Those cases will be handled by the Ministry of the Interior," he clarified.
Meanwhile, the criticality of the situation with dangerous buildings in the province of Larnaca will also affect the issuance of permits, since EOAL announced that it has given absolute priority to strengthening and intensifying the actions of the competent Department of Dangerous Buildings. "The seriousness and risk of the cases being examined, as well as the need for immediate on-site inspections, assessments and protection measures, require the allocation of significant human and technical resources to manage the specific cases", says the EOAL, noting that "there may be temporary delays in the examination of applications and the issuance of permits by the competent services of the Organization, as staff of the Urban and Building Sector have been seconded for a short period of time to the Hazardous Buildings Sector".
"The management of dangerous buildings is a matter of the highest priority, as it is directly linked to the protection of human life, public safety and the quality of life of citizens," notes the Organization, which apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused to the public. "With the completion of the urgent works for the mapping, evaluation and management of dangerous buildings, the staff of the Organization will work intensively to speed up the examination of applications and restore as soon as possible the smooth processing of the procedures for issuing permits and serving the public", notes the EOAL.
