Lefkara mayor Sofoklis Sofokleous expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of two people following the building collapse in Limassol. He stressed that the tragedy is a painful reminder that the issue of unsafe buildings in Cyprus has been neglected for years.
The scale of the problem in Lefkara municipality
The mayor revealed alarming figures regarding unsafe buildings in his municipality. In Pano Lefkara alone, 555 such properties have been recorded, many of them in extremely poor condition. Additionally, around 100 buildings belong to Turkish Cypriot owners, many of which are also deteriorating. The situation is further complicated by the fact that most property owners either live abroad or completely neglect their maintenance responsibilities.
A similar situation, though on a smaller scale, exists across all seven villages within the Lefkara municipality, including Vavla, Layia, Skarinou, Kornos, Delikipos, and Kato Lefkara. Each of these locations has abandoned buildings posing a real threat to residents and tourists. The mayor emphasized that the issue requires systemic solutions at the national level, not just local efforts.
Years of appeals to authorities with no result
Sofokleous noted with frustration that he has been trying for years to get the attention of responsible authorities. He has submitted appeals to the Ministers of Interior and Transport, the Land Department, the Department of Antiquities, and even Parliament. At one parliamentary meeting, the issue of dangerous buildings was discussed in detail. The mayor provided photographic evidence, proposed specific solutions, and called for strict legal measures. However, to his deep disappointment, no meaningful progress has been made, and the country is now mourning its first victims.
Particular concern surrounds the situation in Layia, where local authorities were forced to demolish several buildings that were on the verge of collapsing. The owners either live abroad or showed complete indifference to the condition of their properties. This case highlights how municipalities often find themselves powerless, as current laws do not provide sufficient tools to protect the public.
Call for inspections and transparency
About 12 days ago, during a meeting in Larnaca attended by the president of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber and the head of the Larnaca District Local Government Organization, the mayor once again raised the issue. He called for a comprehensive inspection of all buildings in the area and demanded that all issued planning permits be publicly displayed. Unfortunately, this initiative has yet to be implemented.
The mayor acknowledged the difficult dilemma facing local authorities. On one hand, he does not support the idea of indiscriminately demolishing buildings with historical and cultural value. Destroying architectural heritage is unacceptable. On the other hand, years of inaction are forcing policymakers to take drastic measures and demolish unsafe structures. Sofokleous emphasized that the municipality still lacks the necessary tools and resources to protect residents from buildings that could collapse at any moment. He warned that if the situation does not change, local authorities may once again be forced to “take matters into their own hands.”