An ultimatum of three days to launch the procedures for removing the danger of the Filanta apartment building in the Larnaca port area was given by the Larnaca District Self-Government Organization (EOAL). This is the apartment building in which on May 27 a foreigner lost his life and two others were injured when they jumped from balconies to avoid being arrested, during a major operation by the Aliens and Immigration Service.
The Filanda apartment building has five blocks with 79 apartments and ten shops, the owners of which exceed 90. This is the largest building in Larnaca that was considered dangerous for collapse and which has been an open wound for the city for many years. "Last Friday we served notices and proceeded to post walls on the buildings. We gave them three working days to proceed with measures to remove the danger, otherwise we will ask them to evacuate the buildings. The three days pass today, however, we will still give a little leeway because efforts are being made by some owners, who contacted us. We will give another 2-3 days and if they appoint an engineer and proceed with a plan to fix the problem, then they will be given the margin. Otherwise we will proceed with an evacuation and if there is no compliance we will proceed with a court order", the president of EOAL, Angelos Hatzicharalambous, told filenews.
The EOAL officials proceeded to deliver from door to door and also found the miserable living conditions of many residents, but also the incredible illegalities in the building, many apartments of which have been illegally occupied by foreigners. "The EOAL officials knocked on the doors and made a performance and we saw a lot. Mostly foreign nationals reside, and there are many families. There are apartments where too many people live, in some there may be 10 people. The hygienic conditions in the buildings are also miserable," said Mr. Hadjicharalambous, noting that many services must be involved "We found several tenants who catch electricity from each other illegally. There are too many problems. Many services need to be mobilised. It is not only a matter of removing the danger. There are issues of the Police about who lives, it is the Municipality of Larnaca for the nuisance and hygiene issues, the Electromechanical Service and the EAC must be included for the issues of electricity, but also the Fire Service because they have closed exits. There are illegalities and illegalities in this building. To achieve what everyone needs to get involved in," he noted.
In the coming days, EOAL will proceed with similar actions in other large apartment buildings in Larnaca that have been deemed dangerous.
