Newsroom
Emergency crews responded Thursday afternoon after the roof of an abandoned house collapsed in Larnaca, triggering a large-scale search operation to make sure nobody was trapped inside.
Firefighters, police officers and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident was reported at around 4:40 p.m. Authorities said early inspections showed no evidence of injuries or people buried under the debris.
Specialized rescue crews from the Larnaca district, along with the EMSAK K9 unit and search dogs, carried out checks through the rubble before excavation equipment was brought in to continue clearing the site. Officials said the operation remained ongoing as crews worked to secure the damaged structure and inspect the interior of the building.
Local authorities confirmed the collapsed property had been abandoned. According to Angelos Hadjicharalambous, president of the Larnaca District Local Government Organization, the building had not been included in official records identifying dangerous structures that were transferred from previous authorities.
He added that a neighboring property had already been classified as unsafe, although its owner had not proceeded with demolition work. Officials now plan to move forward with demolishing both buildings in the coming days.
Police sealed off the surrounding road as a precaution while emergency services continued their inspections. Authorities also investigated reports that homeless individuals may occasionally enter abandoned buildings in the area, prompting a careful search of the site before demolition efforts proceed.
Andreas Vyras said the incident reflects the scale of aging and unsafe buildings across the city and other urban areas in Cyprus. He said local governments face major difficulties tackling the issue alone because of staffing shortages, financial costs and legal complications tied to dangerous properties.
Vyras called for closer cooperation between municipalities, government agencies and property owners, warning that abandoned and deteriorating structures remain a serious challenge for local authorities.
