Larnaca, Cyprus. The Larnaca district government organisation (EOA) called on Wednesday for the allocation of funds to manage dangerous buildings and other responsibilities as evacuation efforts continued in the district.
Funding request and responsibilities
The EOA said it welcomed and supported demands made by the union of municipalities to the government to address what it described as a serious housing and social problem, following a recent incident in Larnaca involving the forced evacuation of dangerous apartment buildings.
Referring to a joint statement of district government organisations, the Larnaca EOA said that neither municipalities nor local district governments had sufficient financial resources to provide temporary or permanent housing for people affected by evacuations, adding that this did not fall within its remit.
“It is the responsibility of the government and the responsible ministries to enforce the legislation,” the EOAs said.
Inspections and evacuation notices in Larnaca
The call followed visual inspections of around 100 buildings in the Larnaca district in recent days, after which 22 residential buildings were deemed potentially dangerous.
The EOA said on Tuesday that evacuation orders would be sent to residents, officially informing them of the need to evacuate their homes within three days.
Residents from one of the evacuated apartment buildings in Larnaca have been temporarily relocated, with many not having secured alternative accommodation.
The interior ministry said that, given the tourist season, the arrangement would apply for a few weeks to allow affected people to make their own accommodation arrangements while repairs to the apartment building are completed.
Limassol EOA seeks court orders for Yermasoyia building
In Limassol, the EOA filed a request on Wednesday for an evacuation order and the demolition of the Seagate apartment building in Yermasoyia.
Limassol EOA president Yiannis Tsouloftas told the Cyprus News Agency that the organisation was waiting to see whether the court would approve the requests for evacuation and demolition, and whether residents would be given a deadline to leave.
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