Extremely worrying data on dangerous buildings mainly in the city, but also in the province of Larnaca, were brought to light by the completion of the mapping by the local Provincial Self-Government Organization (EOAL). This results not only from the number of potentially dangerous buildings, but also from the fact that these include many apartment buildings with hundreds of tenants. Tenants who are at risk by living in these buildings, which if it is judged that they need to be evacuated, then a big social problem will be created, especially in the city of Larnaca, due to the fact that rents are high and availability is low.
"F" secured the mapping data from the EOAL, which in the next period will make decisions on the residential buildings, based on their degree of risk. The mapping showed that in the province of Larnaca there are 1,050 dangerous buildings. It is noted that their number is almost double those that came under the responsibilities of EOAL on April 1, 2025 (563 buildings), when relevant data were delivered by the local authorities.
Of these 1,050 buildings, 471 are in the Municipality of Larnaca, 117 in the Municipality of Lefkara, 65 in the Municipality of Dromolaxia – Meneou, 39 in the Municipality of Aradippou, 12 in the Municipality of Athienou and another 346 in the community complexes. Most of these buildings are uninhabited and are expected to be sealed, while their owners will be asked to take action.
Although the number of potentially dangerous buildings is huge, what put EOAL on red alert are the results of the first 180 visual inspections carried out by private individuals, to which another 110 cases were recently given. Of these 180 cases, 94 concern dangerous class C buildings, which are at risk of collapse if no measures are taken. Another 36 were placed in Category B, since they have extensive damage, while 30 are in Category A, due to minor damage. In just 20 buildings, no issues were identified because they were renovated.
The big problem is that there are also 31 residential buildings in category C, 27 of which are apartment buildings (26 in the city of Larnaca and 1 in Pyla), while 4 are ground floor houses (3 in Larnaca and 1 in Tersefanou).
These include the "Filanta" apartment building, which recently occupied due to the YAM operation, which resulted in three foreigners falling from balconies to avoid arrest, one of whom died tragically. The apartment building in question, which has since been reported to be under the microscope of EOAL due to its miserable condition, is located near the port and has 79 apartments and 10 shops. 64 apartments and 12 shops has a second dangerous apartment building in the center of Larnaca.
In total, as we were told, in these 27 apartment buildings there are 300 residential apartments. Most of them are located in the center of Larnaca and in the areas of Sotiros and Chrysopolitissa. "We, now, having the mapping, have started to implement a specific plan. In the next 15 days we will complete the actions for the 31 cases of residential buildings. The remaining 63 uninhabited buildings of Category C will be sealed.
For the 1,050 buildings in the entire province, we must say that most of them are not inhabited and signs will be put up," said the president of EOAL, Angelos Hatzicharalambous, who once again appealed to building owners. "Owners should realize that when you have a property, it carries with it a great responsibility. They must maintain their premises and make sure that they do the work they should. Otherwise, they will find themselves in a difficult position, because if the EOAL intervenes by decree, they risk administrative fines, which we intend to impose."
What EOA Larnaca has done so far
From the end of May until today, the Larnaca Provincial Self-Government Organization has evacuated the "Madona Court" apartment building in Faneromeni, closed the "club D' LUX" in the port area, while giving a warning to remove the danger in the "Adelphi Court" apartment building in Chrysopolitissa. At the same time, it has fenced off a number of dangerous uninhabited buildings in the city and the province, while it has taken actions to demolish 2 buildings in Larnaca and Tersefanou.
Two more dangerous buildings are expected to be demolished in Larnaca in the coming days. "After the issue is made public, many owners contact EOAL and report that they will take measures in buildings, because there is a fear that they will be recovered by the Organization," noted Mr. Hatzicharalambous.
The president of EOAL also sounded an alarm bell about the social problem that will be created in the event that more evacuations are decided. "From the first moment, we informed the municipality, the Ministry of the Interior and the Deputy Ministry of Welfare. The municipality helped us a lot with the social workers at "Madona Court" and the evacuation took place, without any problems. Also, the Minister of the Interior granted us, through Civil Defense, 30 rooms in hotels for a short period of time.
The Deputy Ministry of Welfare, however, has no intention of doing anything, as one of its officials told us at a meeting. It is not our responsibility either, but it is a social problem that must be addressed. When the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare says that it is not his job, then whose job is it?", asked Mr. Hadjicharalambous.
The existing legislation is a major obstacle
The EOA Larnaca – and this is something that should be credited to it – essentially undertook to do in a few months, what the local authorities have not done for decades. However, like the other Organizations, it must implement legislation, which, according to Mr. Hadjicharalambous, does not provide the necessary tools. "With the existing legislation, there are serious delays until we implement the necessary measures, but also in being able to immediately impose what is necessary, so that the owners can respond.
In order to impose, for example, an administrative fine, an order must first be obtained from the Court," he stressed, noting that there are cases in other cities where courts did not approve eviction orders. "In other words, while the buildings are dangerous, the tenants remain inside and the legislation states that we also have a responsibility as Organizations," he noted, adding that a bill is being prepared, which will be put before the Interior Committee.
A serious issue, as he said, also arises from the human and financial resources needed to handle the dangerous buildings. "We, in order to be able to map the dilapidated ones, absorbed almost all the resources of the Licensing Service. For a month and a half we did not issue licenses by decision of the Board of Directors. For the financial part, we hope to use part of the €2 million. that will be allocated for this purpose by the Ministry of the Interior, but this amount is not sufficient. Visual inspections alone can cost us around €300,000," he said, clarifying that the issuance of permits has recently resumed.
