Newsroom
Cyprus is today remembering the 13 men who lost their lives in the 2011 explosion at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base in Mari, one of the country's most devastating peacetime disasters.
A memorial service is taking place this morning at the Church of the Holy New Martyrs, located within the naval base, with President Nikos Christodoulides and other state officials in attendance. The President is expected to deliver a commemorative address before laying a wreath. A second wreath-laying ceremony will follow at the Firefighters' Memorial at the Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK) headquarters in Kofinou.
The explosion occurred on 11 July 2011, when three blasts tore through containers storing confiscated munitions at the naval base. The strongest explosion struck at about 5:30 a.m., killing 13 members of the National Guard, the Fire Service and EMAK who had been responding to the emergency. Dozens of other people were injured.
The force of the explosion destroyed much of the naval base and caused extensive damage to the nearby Vasilikos Power Station. The destruction disrupted electricity generation and placed a heavy financial burden on the Cypriot economy.
Those who died were Captain Andreas Ioannides, Lieutenant Commander Lambros Lambrou, Chief Petty Officer Cleanthis Cleanthous, Volunteer Petty Officer Michalis Heracleous, sailors Miltos Christoforou, Christakis Christoforou and Andreas Charalambous, Fire Service Sergeant Andreas Papadopoulos, Leading Firefighter Giorgos Giakoumis, and firefighters Vasilis Krokos, Spyros Ttantis, Panayiotis Theophilou and Adamos Adamou.
The Council of Ministers later declared all 13 men national heroes in recognition of their sacrifice while carrying out their duties. The Church of the Holy New Martyrs of Cyprus was subsequently built inside the naval base in their memory.
Fifteen years on, the anniversary continues to be marked with ceremonies honouring those who gave their lives in the line of duty and remembering the lasting impact of the tragedy on Cyprus.
