Newsroom
Roads disappeared beneath muddy water and rain poured into homes and basements as severe thunderstorms swept across parts of Larnaca on Friday.
Videos shared on social media showed vehicles making their way through heavily flooded streets as torrential rain overwhelmed parts of the district, particularly Aradippou.
Fire service crews were called to the area to respond to weather-related incidents, while municipal teams were sent into the streets to assist residents.
Aradippou Mayor Christodoulos Partou said the drainage system could not absorb the volume of water in some neighborhoods, causing it to enter several homes. Problems were reported around Michalaki Paridi and Dionysiou Solomou streets, areas already known to be vulnerable during heavy rain.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras said problems had also been reported at several local points, although they were not considered serious at that stage.
The downpour came during a 20-hour yellow weather warning issued by the Department of Meteorology. The warning took effect at 9 p.m. Thursday and remained in place until 5 p.m. Friday.
Forecasters warned that rainfall could reach between 35 and 55 millimeters in a single hour. Hail was also possible, while sudden gusts during thunderstorms could reach 8 Beaufort.
The storms initially affected western parts of the island before moving east, with the strongest weather expected to concentrate over the mountains and eastern Cyprus from midday.
For drivers, the danger is not simply getting wet or sitting in another Cyprus traffic jam. Floodwater can hide potholes, raised drains, and debris, and its depth can be difficult to judge from behind the wheel. Motorists should avoid flooded roads rather than attempting to cross them.
Conditions were expected to improve noticeably later Friday afternoon.
The weekend should bring calmer weather, with mostly clear skies forecast for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Some clouds may still develop over the mountains and inland after midday, bringing the possibility of an isolated shower or thunderstorm.
Temperatures are expected to rise on Saturday and edge up again on Sunday, returning close to normal September levels.
