TODAY MARKS 15 YEARS SINCE THE DEADLY EXPLOSION IN MARI - IMAGES FROM THE MEMORIAL SERVICE OF THE 13 HEROES - Filenews 11/7
Fifteen years have passed since the deadly explosion at the "Evangelos Florakis" naval base in Mari, which claimed the lives of 13 people. The victims lost their lives in the line of duty, in one of the biggest tragedies that shocked the Republic of Cyprus.
On July 11, 2011, three explosions, the most powerful being around half past five in the morning, in the containers with ammunition stored at the naval base, led to the death of 13 people, officers and non-commissioned officers of the National Guard, the Fire Brigade and the EMAK and the injury of dozens of others. The naval base was levelled, while the shock wave destroyed the huge damage to the adjacent power plant in Vasiliko, with a significant burden on the economy.
Captain Andreas Ioannidis, Commander Lambros Lambrou, Chief Petty Officer Kleanthis Kleanthous, Chief Petty Officer Michalis Heracleous, Sailors Miltos Christoforou, Christakis Christoforou and Andreas Charalambous, Sergeant Sergeant of the Fire Service Andreas Papadopoulos, Chief Firefighter Giorgos Giakoumis and firefighters Vassilis Krokos, Spyros Ttantis, Panagiotis Theofilou and Adamos Adamou lost their lives in the explosion of the containers.
The Council of Ministers declared 13 people who fell in the line of duty as its heroes.
Within the naval base, the Holy Church of the Holy New Martyrs in Cyprus was erected in memory of the 13 victims.
The annual memorial service for the 13 heroically fallen during the deadly explosion was held in the morning in the presence of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis.
The memorial service of the fallen in the line of duty officers and non-commissioned officers of the Navy Command and firefighters of EMAK took place at the holy church of the Holy New Martyrs at the naval base. The memorial service was presided over by the Metropolitan of Paphos Grigorios and a memorial speech was delivered by the President of the Republic.
The President of the Republic arrived at the naval base at 8:00 in the morning. He inspected a joint detachment (navy, infantry and air force) of the National Guard while the SMEF played military marches and the national anthem.
As part of the ceremony, a minute of silence was observed, wreaths were laid and the attendees chanted the national anthem.
Also present were the Speaker of the House of Representatives and DISY, Annita Dimitriou, the Minister of Defense, Vassilis Palmas, the Minister of Justice and Public Order Kostas Fytiris, the Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambidis, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panagiotou, the Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hatzimanoli, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Vasiliki Kassianidou, the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nikolas Ioannidis, the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs. Welfare Klea Hatzistefanou Papaellinas.
On behalf of the Police, Assistant Chief Michalis Katsounotos was present and on behalf of the Fire Service, Chief Fire Marshal Nikos Longinos
Also present were the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Theodorou and the Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus, Konstantinos Kollias, MPs and local government officials.
This will be followed by the laying of wreaths at the monument of fallen firefighters at the EMAK facilities in Kofinou.
The ceremony will be attended and wreaths laid by the President of the Republic, the Metropolitan of Paphos, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, members of the families of the fallen and state officials.
At four in the morning, the established march in memory of the fallen firefighters took place by a pedestrian section consisting of members of EMAK.
The march started from the Unit's premises in Kofinou and ended at the naval base, following the route of about 17 kilometers traveled by the Unit's vehicles during their response to the tragic incident of July 11, 2011.
The pedestrian section was preceded by a staff vehicle of the Service, in which the Commander of EMAK was riding, while the march was accompanied by members of the Police and the Ambulance Service.
