Mari, Cyprus. Cyprus marked 15 years since the July 11, 2011 explosion at the Evangelos Florakis naval base in Mari, which killed 13 members of the National Guard, fire service and Disaster Response Special Unit.
A memorial service was held at Agion Ieromartiron church at the naval base in the presence of President Nikos Christodoulides and other officials.
Memorial events
Christodoulides delivered a memorial address and laid a wreath during the service. He was also due to lay a wreath at the Heroes’ Memorial at the Disaster Response Special Unit premises in Kofinou.
2011 explosion
On July 11, 2011, three explosions tore through shipping containers storing munitions at the naval base. The most powerful blast occurred at about 5:30am.
The explosions killed 13 officers and emergency personnel and injured dozens of others. The naval base was devastated, while the blast wave caused extensive damage to the nearby Vasilikos power station, with significant repercussions for the country’s economy.
National heroes
The cabinet officially declared the 13 men who died to be national heroes. Agion Ieromartiron church was built within the naval base grounds in their memory.