Newsroom
A 34-year-old Syrian man seeking a better life in Cyprus died in a tragic work accident on Wednesday afternoon while doing his job in Peyia, Paphos.
The victim, identified as Aldahdouh Housain, had been living permanently in Cyprus as a political asylum seeker. According to police, he was working in the parking area of the Church of St. George when a pile of timber fell on him while he was unloading it with a lifting machine.
The accident happened around 4:30 p.m. and proved fatal.
Police have arrested two men in connection with the incident, a 64-year-old and a 45-year-old, believed to be the driver of the machine and the contractor overseeing the work. Both were taken in to assist with the investigation.
The case has once again put the spotlight on labor safety, especially for vulnerable groups like asylum seekers, many of whom take on physically demanding and often dangerous jobs with little oversight.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into how exactly the accident occurred and whether proper safety measures were followed.
This is not the first time such a tragedy has struck the island's labor force. Worker safety, particularly in construction and manual labor, has been an ongoing concern, with repeated calls from unions and rights groups for better enforcement of safety regulations.
