Newsroom
What was meant to be a picture-perfect sunset in Larnaca turned into a very expensive mistake. A driver who entered the Larnaca Salt Lake last week to capture the evening glow got his car stuck, and when a second car came to the rescue, it got trapped too.
After nearly a week in the mud, rescue crews finally managed to free the first car around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, with hopes the second would follow by early afternoon, according to Larnaca Deputy Mayor Iason Iasonidis.
The driver’s quest for the perfect shot has come with a hefty price tag. The Game and Fauna Service slapped him with a €2,000 fine for damaging a protected habitat, while the vehicle recovery bill could cost between €5,000 and €8,000, all of which he’ll have to pay himself.
“It’s time for stricter measures,” said Iasonidis, adding that while the municipality doesn’t plan to fence off the area, visitors need to respect the fragile ecosystem. “We see locals and tourists walking right into the middle of the lake, even though it’s forbidden. We all need to learn to respect nature.”
The Salt Lake, a protected Natura 2000 site, often fills with water after autumn rains, and while it’s a favorite spot for photographers and flamingo watchers, it’s definitely not meant for off-roading.
