Newsroom
Authorities in Cyprus are continuing a nationwide effort to curb dangerous activities linked to Easter bonfires and firecrackers, with officials reporting thousands of confiscations already this year.
According to Police explosives expert Paris Kyriakou, a coordinated campaign launched two months ago remains in full force and is expected to reach its peak during Holy Week. The initiative, carried out alongside local municipalities and the Fire Service, focuses on preventing youth-related offenses tied to the use of firecrackers and the construction of large, uncontrolled bonfires known as lambratzies.
So far in 2026, Police have seized approximately 11,000 fireworks items, most of them firecrackers. This follows a significant number of confiscations in 2025, when authorities recovered over 20,000 such items, including around 9,000 firecrackers.
Officials warn that both bonfires and firecrackers pose serious safety risks, not only to those directly involved but also to bystanders. Recent incidents highlight these dangers. During last year’s Easter period, a 22-year-old man lost his life after being struck by a falling pole at a bonfire site. In separate cases, a 40-year-old was injured by a firecracker outside a church, while two minors suffered amputations, one due to a commercially produced firecracker and another from a homemade device.
Police say their strategy combines public awareness efforts with increased enforcement. Information campaigns are being carried out through traditional and social media, while officers have been visiting schools to educate students about the risks. At the same time, patrols have been stepped up in areas where such activities are more likely, including parks, open spaces, and church grounds.
Authorities are also targeting the supply of illegal explosives. Enhanced inspections are underway at official entry points, where items may be smuggled in disguised shipments, as well as along the ceasefire line. Most illegal firecrackers are believed to originate from Turkey and enter government-controlled areas via the occupied territories, while others arrive legally from countries such as Spain and Poland.
Despite the rejection of proposed legislation aimed at regulating the bonfire tradition, Police say their operations are unaffected, as existing laws already prohibit the lighting of fires. However, some flexibility is shown on Holy Saturday, when controlled bonfires may be permitted in designated church areas under supervision.
Efforts are also being made to prevent bonfires from being built in the first place. In cooperation with local authorities and the Fire Service, crews are actively removing piles of wood and other flammable materials found in public spaces.
Kyriakou emphasized that the possession, transport, or use of firecrackers is illegal and can carry severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to ten years. Only licensed professionals are permitted to handle fireworks, and even they are not authorized to use firecrackers.
He further explained that both factory-made and improvised firecrackers can be highly dangerous. While manufactured items are subject to safety standards, these can be compromised by poor storage or handling. In some cases, defects may cause immediate detonation once lit. Homemade devices, however, are considered even more hazardous due to the lack of controlled production conditions.
Meanwhile, Andreas Vyras, President of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and Mayor of Larnaca, described the situation as deeply concerning. He stressed that the bonfire tradition should be limited strictly to Holy Saturday and conducted safely outside churches. Activities taking place in the months leading up to Easter, he said, bear no relation to tradition and instead constitute dangerous and disruptive behavior.
Vyras added that municipalities are working closely with Police and fire authorities, with crews routinely clearing materials intended for bonfires. He warned that without stronger measures, the risk to public safety will continue to grow.
Both officials emphasized the need for continued cooperation between authorities and the public to prevent further injuries or fatalities and to ensure that Easter celebrations remain safe for all.
